Executive Summary
- Recommends 10 concrete return-to-work steps: basic training on how COVID-19 spreads, following CDC guidance for identifying symptoms, sending sick employees home, and taking employee temperatures at arrival.
- Additional steps include maintaining social distancing, creating alternating/staggered work schedules, requiring frequent handwashing, and providing masks/gloves along with training on how to use them.
- Also recommends an hourly rotation for disinfecting high-touch surfaces, plus having employees wipe down their own workstations at the end of each day.
With current debates, discussions, and considerations of getting people back to work and re-opening businesses, there are still many questions and concerns surrounding the current COVID-19 situation.
Return-to-Work Guidelines for Companies
However, returning to work doesn't have to be scary or difficult. While there are many different return-to-work resources and guidelines that are floating around, there are certain things that every employer needs to consider.
Here are ten things all employers should consider when having employees and workers return to work:
- Basic training and understanding of how COVID-19 is transmitted
- Following CDC guidelines for identifying signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Inform sick employees to stay home and encourage them to get tested
- Taking employee's temperatures when they arrive at work
- Maintain social distancing
- Create and or revise employee work schedules, so that employees can work alternating schedules
- Washing their hands upon arriving at work and in accordance with CDC guidelines
- Provide employees with masks and gloves and provide training on how to use them
- Create a schedule for designated employees to wipe down “high touch” areas with a disinfectant on an hourly rotation
- Employees should wipe down their work area at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts on Returning to Work
Bringing employees back to the office for the first time since COVID is about as stressful as change management can get. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to help employers get back to business.
If you are an employer struggling with implementing a return-to-work plan, a payroll and HR company may be able to help.
To learn more about how Payday HCM is already helping countless businesses with return-to-work, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What basic health and safety steps should we take when bringing employees back to the office?
The article recommends: training employees on how COVID-19 spreads and following CDC guidance for identifying symptoms, taking temperatures at arrival, maintaining social distancing, using staggered/alternating work schedules, providing masks and gloves with usage training, and setting an hourly rotation for disinfecting high-touch surfaces (plus having employees wipe down their own workstations at day's end).
Q: What should we do if an employee shows symptoms or feels sick?
Instruct sick employees to stay home and encourage them to get tested, rather than coming into work.
Q: We don't have in-house expertise for this — who can help us put together a return-to-work plan?
A payroll and HR company can help guide you through building and implementing a return-to-work plan if you're not sure where to start on your own.
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