Four Guidelines Employers Should Implement Before Returning to Work
From employees working remotely from home, to zoom conferences and virtual client outreach, the pandemic has changed the perception of “business as usual.” Now, as many states look to ease social distancing restrictions on a responsible and incremental basis, here are four ways employers can best prepare for a healthy and productive return to work.
1. Social Distancing.
It is crucial that employers devise a plan to reinforce social distancing measures by providing frequent reminders to employees in the office, such as tape on the floor directing employees to travel in one direction, signs near entrances “wash, don’t shake, hands”, moving desks six feet apart, or setting up dividers between work stations.
2. Implement Self-Assessment Policies.
Perhaps the most important policy any employer can implement when returning to work is a strict but flexible initiative that encourages workers showing signs or symptoms of illness to stay home until cleared by a medical provider. Such a policy emphasizes the importance of putting health first, but is flexible enough to permit employees to work from home.
3. Reduce or Rotate Workplace Schedules.
Depending on the size of your workforce and how amenable your business is to working from home, institute a rotating in-office work schedule to reduce contacts between employees.
4. Disinfect High Traffic Areas.
Another way to foster workplace health is to use disinfection products, especially in high traffic areas. Identifying problematic or high traffic areas in your office prior to the return of your workforce is a crucial step to ensure your office and employees are protected.
While the pandemic has produced many serious drawbacks and inconveniences, empathy, concern and appreciation for our fellow co-workers are not among them. Innovation, perseverance and a positive outlook even during times of adversity are at the core of any successful business, pandemic or not.
For assistance with any legal matters related to your business or estate planning, contact Fournier Legal Services at jfournier@jeflegal.com or 860.670.3535 now for a free consultation and planning session.
Joseph E. Fournier is an Attorney and a CPA who has more than twenty years of experience in a variety of business legal matters, including start-ups and company formations, drafting shareholder and operating agreements, contracts, employment law, commercial litigation, tax planning and audit defense, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). He also handles estate planning matters, such as business succession planning, wills, trusts, and probate.