States Reopening
All 50 states have begun to reopen! The last state, Connecticut, started to reopen Wednesday May 20.
If your company hasn’t started to create a reopening plan, and you’re not really certain how to even start your particular company plan, the following are a few helpful links to various guidelines and resources:
- Review the CDC’s guidelines for workplace coronavirus safety
- Watch reopening webinar series hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Check out the 10 actions every business should take to reopen safely by the National Safety Council
- Review the employer portion of the White House and CDC guidelines for reopening — which we included directly below.
The Administration and CDC released their official Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. It is a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts to help state and local officials reopen their economies successfully and get people back to work.
Proposed Approach
The proposed approach is:
- Based on the most up-to-date data available
- Curbs the risk of COVID resurgence
- Protects our most vulnerable citizens
- Adoptable on a statewide or county-by-county basis
The White House and CDC suggests that states meet the following criteria before implementing a phased reopening:
- A 14-day downward trajectory in COVID-like symptoms
- A 14-day downward trajectory of influenza-like reported illnesses
- A 14-day downward trajectory of documented cases OR a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period
- Hospitals are capable of treating all patients without crisis care
- There is robust testing in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing
Once states meet all of the above, it is considered safe to move forward with the government’s three-phase reopening plan.
For employers, the CDC and Administration recommends that you implement these guidelines when reopening:
- Implement best practice policies with regards to: social distancing and protective equipment, temperature checks, sanitation, use/disinfection of common and high-traffic areas and business travel
- Monitor your workforce for indicative symptoms.
- Do not allow people to physically return to work while symptomatic.
- Implement a policy for contract tracing should someone in your workforce test positive for COVID-19.
Employer Guidelines
If you haven’t already, read up on the CDC employer guidelines here.
Once a location is considered safe to reopen, the official Guidelines for Opening Up America Again recommend that employers adhere to these recommendations during PHASE 1:
- Continue to encourage remote working when possible.
- If you can, return employees to work in phases.
- Close common areas where staff are likely to congregate OR enforce social distancing within those areas.
- Minimize nonessential travel or follow CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
- Strongly consider special accommodations for especially vulnerable staff.
During Phase 1, schools and organized children activities, bars and night clubs should remain closed. However, gyms and venue-based businesses (like restaurants, cinemas, churches, etc.) can operate while observing severe distancing protocols. Elective surgeries and dentists may also resume practicing on an out-patient basis.
Once your area moves to PHASE 2, these guidelines are provided for employers:
- Continue to encourage remote working when possible.
- Close common areas where staff are likely to congregate OR enforce social distancing within those areas.
- Strongly consider special accommodations for especially vulnerable staff.
During Phase 2, schools and organized children activities can reopen. Bars and night clubs may operate with diminished standing room occupancy where applicable. Gyms and venue-based businesses (like restaurants, cinemas, churches, etc.) can operate while observing moderate distancing protocols. Elective surgeries may also resume on an out-patient and in-patient basis.
Once your area moves to PHASE 3, these guidelines are provided for employers:
- You should resume unrestricted staffing of worksites.
During Phase 3, life will be close to normal. Gyms and venue-based businesses (like restaurants, cinemas, churches, etc.) can operate while observing limited distancing protocols.
We encourage you to read these guidelines in their entirety here.
Assistance
If we can offer assistance in:
- Workforce planning
- Recruiting temporary staff to scale with your current situation
- Temperature screeners to keep your staff and visitors virus-free
- Providing contact trackers to identify and follow-up those who come in contact will ill workers
call us today to help build out the staffing portion of your Reopening Plan.
We’re doing our part to help you…
Because in a disruptive world, you need a different breed of staffing agency.