Jeff Joseph, President, SIIA

As governments across the nation begin lifting shelter-in-place orders and related restrictions implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are preparing to reopen and welcome back employees to the “new normal.”

Reentry plans will need to be tailored to address the conditions of a specific workplace and should follow the guidance of local officials to focus on the safety and well-being of employees and customers. Plans also should provide flexibility to allow for the home-life needs of individual employees and adjustable for changing circumstances.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC) released guidance to assist employers in making decisions regarding resuming business operations. The guidance includes the following recommendations:

• Protecting employees at higher risk of infection.
• Creating action and communications plans for a re-emergence of infection.
• Restricting use of shared space and items.
• Communicating with local health and relevant government officials.
• Intensifying cleaning and disinfection throughout the work space.
• Establishing a system of regular health checks.

In addition to the CDC guidance, several agencies have issued useful guidelines and checklists to help companies develop their own reentry plan.

Additional resources:

CDC Checklist for Assisting Workplaces in Making Reopening Decisions

CDC Guidance for Disinfecting Workplaces and Public Spaces

OSHA Guidelines for Measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection 

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Guidance for Securing Video Conferencing

Commercial Real Estate Services provider JLL – Webinar on Strategies for re-activating workspaces

OSHA Guidance for employers who must train workers on how to use PPE 

.