The Delta Variant and the Workplace: How You Should Respond

The Delta Variant and the Workplace: How You Should Respond

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left no part of our lives untouched. And now, the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 is causing infections and hospitalizations to rise again in the United States, even in communities with high vaccination rates.? The pandemic will be over one day, but our response needs to be long-term focused.

At this critical time, CEOs are turning to us in HR for expert advice on how to navigate the delicate balance between ensuring employee safety and well-being and moving ahead with business. I am one of them.?

The good news? As the virus evolves, employers have honed their strategies to keep infections in check. By continuing to be creative, flexible, and adaptive in our approaches, we can contain the threat now and handle other outbreaks as they occur.

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Here are some broad COVID-19 measures and resources:

  • If you are considering mandating vaccines, check out these helpful guidelines from Houston Methodist.
  • Consider your local transmission rates in your return-to-office decisions. Delayed reopening, hybrid work or staggered schedules can help reduce the risk in areas where weekly infection rates are high.
  • Check out SHRM's COVID-19 Vaccination Resources page for vaccination FAQs, mandatory and voluntary vaccination policies, request forms, and more.
  • Decide when to recommend or require masks. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) COVID-19 page for up-to-date mask recommendations. Need to know how to avoid complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act? Check out the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's guidelines.

We all want to move forward, but we need to skillfully prepare for what we are facing right now and what's ahead. Employers have a new and profound responsibility to prevent resurgence and spread in the workplace.

But in the midst of uncertainty, one thing is clear: Workplaces will be the cornerstone of our recovery.

Let’s continue to lean on and learn from each other as we progress through this crisis and what comes next.
Tony Cooper

Award Winning Bookkeeping Professional for Small and Medium Businesses ◆Preparing tax returns ◆Invoicing ◆Maintaining accounts receivable and accounts payable ◆Reconciling financial statements with bank statements

3 年

Thank you for this reminder Johnny! Everyone should maintain a safe distance from each other and always wear face masks.

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Toni Mondragon

Licensed Real Estate Broker | Real Estate Property | Property Investments | House & Lot Selling | Condos | Buy and Sell

3 年

This is worth a read! It is most likely that COVID19 won't be eradicated, and it is probable that we will just have to learn to live with it. Thank you for sharing these insights, Johnny. This will really help companies and business strategize their operation amidst the pandemic.

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Narghiza E.

Finance Executive

3 年

very helpful

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Greta Fox

Nurse Practitioner, COVID Safety Consultant and Activist, Photography Business Manager.

3 年

It is important to plan carefully for safer return to work, and these are some great points! However, COVID is airborne, and spreads by inhaled aerosols especially indoors, and vaccines alone will not end the pandemic, they need us to help by maintaining other layers of protection while community transmission and mutations are ongoing. My response is not intended to be critical, and please know that covidactiongroup.net of which I am a member is here to help counter incomplete or dis-information and to empower you with good information and resources to help you keep safer! There are many errors in this photo: while it does show distancing, distancing only helps in the short run- the virus is more concentrated around a source (infected person), but after a while it spreads through the space and lingers in the air like smoke for several hours. It shows people wearing surgical masks, which are not sufficient to curb the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant in indoor environments. Reliable respirators e.g. Powecon brand KN95 masks (I have no financial interests in the company) are optimal or visit N95project.org. It also shows plexiglass barriers which not only do virtually nothing to inhibit the spread of aerosols, but can actually create stagnant pockets of air. There is a window pictured, but it appears to be closed. The best practices would include opening windows where possible, and most especially, upgrading the ventilation and air filtration in indoor environments. True HEPA filters will reduce the viral load in the air, whereas units which emit ions and ozone do little, and the particles emitted may be harmful. For comprehensive information on how to protect yourself from aerosol exposure to COVID-19 visit https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols - this site is created and maintained by the world's leading aerosols scientists. Message me with questions and keep safe and well!

Brett Moore

Philosopher, Philanthropist, World Wide Cryptocurrency Investments, Regional Sales Management

3 年

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