Given the amount of uncertainty lingering around reopening and regulations, COVID-19 has undoubtedly been a difficult and emotional time for employers and employees alike. South Bay HR has provided a condensed resource guide to assist your business towards a successful reopening strategy.
As the State of California has officially moved into Phase 2 of “gradual reopening” there are several valuable resources on The State of California COVID-19 Response website. One of the best resources available is the COVID-19 Resiliency Roadmap, an online resource, updated quite frequently that provides employers guidance for reopening safely during each stage.
Prior to reopening, the State of California recommends all facilities complete a five-part checklist found on the State of California’s Statewide industry guidance to reduce risk resource page online. Furthermore, the Industry Guidance online resource center provides thorough, industry-specific guidelines and checklists for the following:
- Agriculture and livestock
- Automobile Dealerships
- Child care
- Common Infrastructure
- Construction
- Delivery services
- Energy and utilities
- Food packaging
- Hotels and lodging
- Life science
- Limited services
- Logistics and warehousing facilities
- Manufacturing
- Mining and logging
- Outdoor museums
- Office workspaces
- Ports
- Public transit and intercity passenger rail
- Real estate transaction
- Retail
Please note that while all resources listed above are provided by The State of California COVID-19 Response team, your business must adhere to the county and city guidelines that apply to your work locations.
While you are preparing for workplace reopening, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted an Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to assist them in planning, preparing and responding to COVID-19. Information includes:
- What an employer should do if there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace
- Reducing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces
- Healthy business operations
- Cleaning and Disinfection in the workplace
Lastly, Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 online resource page provides guidance on requirements to protect workers from Coronavirus for specific industries. Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 guidance was developed to assist employers with complying with their responsibility to take steps to protect employees from infectious diseases, like COVID-19, and to provide them with information on how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease.
Your well thought out reopening strategy should be put into place before any employees are brought back to work. Planning for the future and safety of all employees begins with the resources provided above.
If you have questions and would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your HR needs, please feel free to contact South Bay HR.
Resources cited:
(Note that the information on these sites is updated frequently and should be checked periodically for the latest updates.)
- State of California COVID-19 Response page: https://covid19.ca.gov/
- State of California Resiliency Roadmap: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/#guidance
- Statewide industry guidance to reduce risk: https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/
- State of California – County updates:
https://covid19.ca.gov/state-local-resources/#top - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html - State of California Dept. of Industrial Relations (Cal/OSHA):
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Health-Care-General-Industry.html
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal advice. South Bay HR, Inc. recommends that before implementing a return to work plan, you consult with outside legal counsel and other professionals that may be able to better address your specific situation. In addition, any information provided here is subject to revision and may not be the most current information available.
Founder of South Bay HR, Lori Burzminski has over 20 years of Human Resource experience, including serving as Corporate Human Resources Director for a multinational, public company with more than 300 employees. Lori started South Bay HR as she saw an immediate need in the California business community for outsourced HR consulting. She leads her company’s team of HR consultants as they help small and medium-sized businesses in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas.
South Bay HR provides Human Resource services for those companies that either do not have the resources to properly staff an HR department or do not need a full-time HR professional onsite. The South Bay HR team helps to provide companies with customized human resources and recruiting solutions through project-based arrangements or at competitive hourly rates. Our team is committed to excellence for your company’s continued success.
