Manage Risks while Returning to Work
Are you a business owner who is nervous about reopening your business while COVID-19 remains present in our community? Do you want to keep your employees and customers safe but you are not sure exactly how to do so?
Here's some good news: you have lots of resources at your disposal. First, familiarize yourself with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control, OSHA, and the State of Idaho.
Next, you should create your own set of guidelines tailored to your business, addressing issues such as cleaning of surfaces, hand-washing, sharing (or not) of equipment, use of face masks, and social distancing. Share those guidelines with your employees, and educate them about how to property operate under the current circumstances.
Indeed, communicating with your employees regularly is a key way to manage your risks. Discuss with them what steps and precautions are being taken, so they will feel comfortable and confident that their work environment is safe. And, develop a protocol for use in the event an employee contracts COVID-19 and needs to request leave. (Remember that such employees may be entitled to pay. Review the FFCRA to discover those paid leave rights.
If your employees decide they are uncomfortable with your protocols, they might report your business practices to OSHA, which can lead to a sight inspection and fines. So, again, communicate, listen, and respond to your employees concerns.
Regarding protection of your customers, you should closely follow the published guidelines for your industry and type of business. If your business involves frequent, direct contact with the public (hair salons or restaurants), you will probably need to make significant changes to how you operate. If you rarely have direct contact with the public (manufacturing), you might only need to focus on keeping your employees safe.
It is possible, at least theoretically, that a business could be sued for failing to protect an employee or customer from COVID-19. However, if you have taken significant steps to protect your employees and customers, your business would likely be able to defend such a claim.
Therefore, if you follow the guidelines published by the CDC, the State, and OSHA , your employees and customers should remain safe and you should keep your COVID-19 risks to a minimum.
If you have questions about COVID-19 and how it might affect your business, please call Learned Lawyer today.
