Your teams have changed.

Some of them are scared, some of them have reevaluated their work/life balance.

But, as a business leader, it is our responsibility to help them with the transformation back to work and (if appropriate) office life. Use these resources as you see fit to communicate to your teams:

Employee Self Check

If an employee has been exposed to a confirmed case or become ill with COVID-19, they are not to return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation or quarantine has been met, and in consultation and approval of healthcare providers.
Employees who are well but how have sick family members at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and follow both company policy and the CDC’s recommended precautions.

Employees are to check their temperatures before leaving home to travel to work. If their temperature is elevated to 100.4 degrees or above, they should not report to work. They should then notify their supervisor immediately and stay home. They should be advised to contact their doctor and treat their symptoms.
If an employee feels symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, or body aches, they should notify their supervisor immediately and stay home. They should contact their doctor and follow instructions to treat their symptoms.

Cloth Face Coverings

Mandatory face covering use will require a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) program, hazard assessment, and documented policy and where required training – to operate with a face covering.

Option A: Voluntary Use

Employees may voluntarily wear disposable respirators to work, as they become available in ways that do not stress the healthcare industry. If the employee does this, the employer may be required to provide a copy of the Respiratory Protection Standard to the employee (check with your legal / HR sources) .

In the meantime, in addition to implementing best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and until employees can be vaccinated against COVID-19, employees may voluntarily wear cloth face coverings. This will, according to CDC, help minimize transmission and possibly exposure to the coronavirus. This, along with the listed measures and our employee's commitment to use of these best practices, will help prevent the spread of the virus and allow employees to return to work safely.

Most PPE is manufactured commercially, but due to the shortage of face covering caused by the sudden and immediate need in healthcare, the CDC has advised the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus but do not know it, from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
If an employee has a health condition that prevents them from wearing a face covering, they are to talk to their manager before reporting to work, to determine what accommodations can be made to work with the employee.

Option B: Required Use

If face coverings will be required, the company must implement a written PPE program which includes a hazard assessment, PPE training, training regarding the hazard and preventing the hazard and documentation of training.

At this time and until further notice, employees are required to wear a cloth face covering that covers their mouth and nose, before entering the workplace and while on company property.

Cloth face coverings are NOT:

An FDA-cleared "N95" respirator
Approved to protect against any infection, virus or disease, specifically including COVID-19
An approved medical device
For use in a setting where significant exposure to liquid bodily or other hazardous fluids is expected.
No warranties, promises, or representations of any kind, express or implied, are given as to the effectiveness of the face coverings.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), non-medical masks may be used "as a last resort" with other protective measures in "settings where [FDA-cleared] face masks are not available.”

The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus, and do not know it, from transmitting it to others.

Use of Cloth Face Coverings

Before touching the cloth face covering, check that it is clean and properly laundered/steam ironed to destroy microorganisms.
- https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/ disinfection/sterilization/steam.html
Before touching the cloth face covering, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Take the cloth face covering and inspect it for tears or holes.
Ensure the proper side of the cloth face covering is facing outwards.
Place the cloth face covering to your face. Pull down the cloth face coverings' bottom so that it covers your mouth and your chin.
Avoid touching the cloth face covering while using it; if you do, clean your hands with an appropriate hand sanitizer or by washing with soap and water afterwards.
Do not pull any part of the face covering down below your chin.
Replace the cloth face covering with a new one as soon as it becomes damp or soiled, including if you cough/ sneeze while wearing it.

Maintenance, Storage and Care of Cloth Face Coverings

Please make sure the coverings are used properly and kept in good condition or promptly changed when dirty or damaged.

Removal and Disposal

After use, take off the cloth face covering, keeping it away from your face and clothes, and avoid touching the surfaces of the covering.
To remove the cloth face covering, be sure to remove it from behind (do not touch the front of the covering).
Perform hand hygiene immediately after touching or discarding the cloth face covering by using an appropriate hand sanitizer or washing your hands with soap and water. Each facility should have a specific can(s) with a cover for disposable cloth face coverings. It is recommended that these cans have a foot pedal and a lifting lid to prevent multiple employees from handling the lid.
Each facility will provide a stock of small plastic bags so that the used coverings can be placed in the bag, and then the bag can be placed in the can. These garbage cans should be located outside, away from the entrance door, or in a remote area of the building. When employees are changing cloth face coverings or disposing of a cloth face covering, it should be done in the open air.

Storage

Reusable cloth face coverings can be stored in employee vehicles and placed into a clean container, such as a plastic bag, to protect them from dirt. The storage container is to be cleaned daily. A plastic bag is to be sealed and discarded after each use.

And if you’re in need for some specific insight tailored for your business, then contact me. A lot of our members are doing extremely well in this environment. To know where the opportunities are, set up a call with me today.