The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is spreading rapidly across the globe and throughout the United States. Accordingly, employers should keep track of rapidly emerging developments and consider taking the 10 steps discussed in the training order to maintain a safe workplace and to reassure their employees that management is appropriately monitoring and responding to the situation. Having a carefully coordinated and well-thought-out approach to the coronavirus should help mitigate risks for employers while reducing many employee concerns.

Employers should create a process that offers accurate information, updated communication, resources and information on what the company is doing to support employees during this complicated time.

With remote and telecommuting may be the new normal, Employers must also create a clear policy to ensure that employees understand what working remotely means and what the expectations are for all involved. Remote/Telecommuting can be a great option in some industries and may be a challenge in others but, it should be an option that allows employees to get paid while the Federal and State resources come into play.

Employers are responsible according to OSHA to provide a safe and healthy environment for employees to work. Employers are obligated to ensure proper communication during this critical time of health update, testing updates, resources and support

The coronavirus is a terrible public health threat, but there is a hidden upside: It gives us a chance to rethink how work is organized and bring our policies into the 21st century.

To protect their workforce, firms are asking people to work at home. Research shows that more flexible work policies that give workers more control over when, where, and how they work don’t hurt business performance. Instead, such policies can lead to less stressed, more satisfied employees who are more likely to stay. When you include the current pandemic and the loss of jobs, remote work is an effective option which include flexibility for both the Employer and the Employee. However, having a remote/telecommuting policy is not enough to address the factors that need to be addressed to ensure employees feel confident about the next phase of the Coronavirus.