Questions Employers Need to Think About Before Reopening

I am starting a series of lists of questions Business Owners need to consider, and likely solve, before reopening their offices can safely occur. I expect several additions to this list in the coming days. These are critical issues we need to solve if we are to safely reopen; if we are to secure the TRUST of our employees that the office is a safe place to be.

• What is the office building owner / landlord doing to ensure the building itself is being prepared and maintained safely for return?
• How will your employees get to your floor / suite safely, when accessing an elevator or opening a door will create contact risks?
• How will you feed your employees safely when cafés and cafeterias won’t be safe, and may not be open, and when a commonly used kitchen is not going to be easily and safely utilized?
• What will your policy be for those employees who refuse to return due to safety concerns?
• Will you allow visitors? If so how will ensure their presence is not a safety risk to your workplace and employees?
• How will the use of shared bathrooms be done safely?
• What PPE will you provide to your employees? How will you secure it?
• How will you define who comes to the office, and when, in a way that allows for social distancing, and business continuity planning?
• Is it necessary for you and your team to return to the office...at all, given the risks?
• At what point will you secure the proper insurance that covers your home based workers? The tax paperwork / process for those who are now working from home in a state where you are not registered?

I welcome your additions to the above, your insights, and your help in getting us to a set of widely accepted answers to each.

Thank you.