The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything. It’s impacted how people around the world socialize, dine and work. Face coverings and physical distancing have become commonplace. So has telecommuting. Despite the virus, many companies in the United States are beginning to restart their operations and reopen their workplaces. We are learning to adapt. Still, the virus remains. It is the responsibility of the companies to protect their employees and customers.
Here are some policies your business may consider implementing to keep your customers and employees safe while limiting liability exposure:
- Require employees to wear face masks in the workplace when working within six feet of other co-workers or whenever dealing with customers and clients.
- Require employees to record their temperature whenever they enter or leave the workplace. Mandate that they go home and quarantine if they have a temperature of 100.4 or higher. Also ask employees if they are experiencing muscle aches, cough or shortness of breath at the beginning and end of each shift.
- Consider requiring customers to wear face coverings while in the establishment.
- Encourage telecommuting or offer it to employees who are more comfortable working from home, when possible. This option may be particularly appealing to employees who are at a higher risk of COVID-19.
- Facilitate physical distancing of at least six feet between groups of people from the same party, and limit parties to no more than 10 people together.
- Conduct business outdoors when possible.
- Provide at least two weeks of paid time off for employees who are quarantined because of contraction of or exposure to COVID-19.
This is a trying time for everyone. Make sure your company is doing its part to keep everyone safe.
For additional information, we hope you’ll visit our website where we have more tips to help you proceed in the age of this pandemic.