Centers for Disease Control Archives - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

COVID-19 Safety Plans: What Employers Need to Know

by Brian S. Cousin, Abigail M. Kagan and Saniya Ahmed | Sep 15, 2020 | Employment

COVID-19 safety plans are a way for employers to demonstrate to their employees, the public and, in certain cases, state governments that they have considered the risks associated with COVID-19 in their workplaces and have developed a response to these concerns. The plans establish and explain the policies, practices and conditions necessary to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards relating to worker and customer exposure to COVID-19. These plans may also incorporate guidance from the state department of health and industry specific guidelines issued via state executive orders.

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What to Do When Scared Workers Do Not Respond to Work Due to COVID-19

by Pankit Doshi | Aug 4, 2020 | Employment

Some essential workers are refusing to go to work out of fear of contracting COVID-19. Their employers must weigh the employees’ legal rights and understandable health concerns with the organizations’ business needs. It can be a tough balancing act.

In a recent article, McDermott Partner Pankit Doshi said employers may relax documentation requirements due to the difficulty some employees could have obtaining access to medical providers during the pandemic and to encourage ill employees to stay away from work.

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Worker Safety, Privacy Clash as Temperature Checks Become Norm

by Michael J. Sheehan | Jun 18, 2020 | Employment, Privacy and Data Security

Employers are poised to collect health data from their workforces daily as they adopt temperature checks and other screening protocols to fight the coronavirus, triggering concerns about workers’ privacy and whether the practices will continue beyond the pandemic.

“The temperature checks give employees and customers the feeling of safety and the idea that the company is doing everything possible, even if the screenings don’t protect the workplace,” said Michael Sheehan, a partner with McDermott Will & Emery, in a recent Bloomberg Law article.

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COVID-19: FAQs on Employees Experiencing Symptoms and Employee Absences

by Michelle S. Strowhiro | Jun 8, 2020 | Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Privacy and Data Security

With rapid developments in local, state and federal guidance and law, the appropriate approach for each employer in relation to COVID-19 will vary depending on the nature of their work, the industries served and their location and size, among other considerations. This article outlines what employers need to know about employees experiencing symptoms and employee absences.

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