To say 2020 has not played out as expected would be the understatement of the year. Across industries, companies have had to quickly adjust to keep their employees safe while still producing the goods and services Americans depend on. Without a playbook or any similar past experiences to draw from, companies are finding innovative solutions to today’s biggest challenges.

Look no further than the state of Iowa for examples.

In early March when many of us were still trying to figure out what was going on and just how serious the spread of COVID-19 might be, the RV company Winnebago started shifting its production to the manufacturing of PPE. Over 6,000 masks were created as part of the one Iowa facility’s initial production run alone. “Community partnerships like this are the perfect example of how good can come from this very critical public health situation,” said MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center president Rob Schlader.

Then there’s Tyson Foods – the only company in its industry conducting large-scale testing. Recognizing the need to protect not just its employees but entire communities, Tyson took quick action to meet and exceed CDC and OSHA guidelines by conducting additional deep cleanings of their facilities, carrying out symptom screenings of employees before every shift, implementing distancing measures like barriers and monitors, and even working with team members to provide education in several languages on how to follow CDC guidelines at home. Throughout the whole process, they are collecting data and are offering to share what they’ve learned with any other company who wants to better protect communities and employees. It’s this kind of “we’re all in this together” approach that will help us move forward. Waterloo, Iowa Mayor Quentin Hart said he is “pleased that Tyson is working on protecting its employees and partnering with the community leaders.”

Of course, few industries have felt more pressure in recent months than the health care industry. Beginning in mid-June, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics announced they would test all admitted patients for COVID-19, an expansion of their previous policy of only testing those with symptoms. This universal testing approach is intended to help prevent further spread of the virus, as UI Health Care’s laboratory has the ability to process 700 COVID-19 tests per day. “Testing of all inpatients, regardless of symptoms, will allow us to continue safely caring for all patients’ health care needs,” said Suresh Gunasekaran, chief executive officer of UI Hospitals & Clinics and associate vice president for UI Health Care.

These are just a few of the companies leading the way forward by taking holistic approaches to safety. No matter the industry, the health of employees, communities, and businesses depend upon efforts like these to be transparent and collaborative.

To learn more about the challenges presented by COVID-19, check out our dedicated page.