Preparation and Communication Prior to Resuming Work
Begin talking about the return to work in team meetings prior to the event. Consider a tiered approach to returning employees including a list of those individuals looking to return immediately and those with concerns. Recognize the possible fear involved in returning to work.
Consider an employee survey to understand concerns and to check the pulse of feelings experienced by employees.
Communicate in writing to all employees a brief summary of the return to work process and contact information for any employee with questions.
Emotional Considerations
Recognize and discuss the fears associated with a return to work. Utilize an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as a useful tool for employees. Listen to employees and consider
brief feedback surveys or online
townhall meetings to understand
concerns.
Preparing Your Building and
Operations
Document your plan and steps in writing. Work with building ownership regarding initial cleaning plans and ongoing focus on cleaning. Take steps to secure additional cleaning supplies and personal disinfectants. Consider a local cleaning company to perform deep cleaning and establish a relationship with this company in the event they are needed in the future following a positive COVID-19 test related to individuals who have been onsite. Communicate to employees regarding new safeguards and cleaning measures in place along with a call for all employees to be responsible for personal cleaning. Confirm with the building owner
overall building inspections
including maintenance on HVAC
and mechanical systems. Assess workspaces to assure daily work can be completed while
providing the suggested spacing of
6 feet or more. Adjust waiting areas and common
rooms to provide social distancing.
Maintaining Controlled Access
Create protocols for daily safety and health checks. Consider entry points to your operations and whether there will be mandatory check-ins, communications, temperature checks or work from home guidance with employees experiencing symptoms. Daily questions/interviewing for employees arriving to work in hightraffic or densely populated work areas may also prove effective. Consider written steps and protocol regarding entry into the building. Control access and interactions in shipping and receiving areas. Establish visitor guidance and provide signage and written instructions for visitors.
Clarifying Your Social-Distancing
Plan
Adjust workstations or utilize every
other workstation to provide the
necessary 6-foot distance between
employees. Utilize scheduling and shiftwork to
decrease the density of employees
at work. Allow continued telework
opportunities for employees whose
job will allow remote work.
Consider foot-traffic patterns in
areas where traffic is high. Consider employee gathering
areas. Use signage and new
expectations in these common
areas or consider keeping these
areas closed during the first phase. Consider a company face-mask
policy. Some companies have made
the masks mandatory, while many
have moved forward with a
voluntary plan.
Reducing or Eliminating Touch Points and Increasing Cleaning
Where possible consider keeping doors open to eliminate touch points. Close common area drinking
fountains temporarily. Create a daily cleaning and cleandesk policy. Offer ideas to employees regarding
a food plan. For instance, if
technology allows, use software like
Zoom for social activities including
lunch and social meetings. Obtain volunteers for a CLEAN
committee. A group like this can
add daily cleaning sessions to your
schedule and provided regular,
targeted cleaning. Continue to allow/provide
opportunity to telework,
conference call and Zoom
meetings. Privacy Precautions
Maintain full written documentation regarding the incident.
Determine and record the last date and time when the person was on the premises. Interview the individual to determine the exact path, locations and focus of their travel within the buildings and workspaces. Create a detailed list of any other individuals with whom they had close contact or interaction. Determine from the individual the
first dates of symptoms. Seek voluntary submission of COVID19 test results. Trust but verify the
information and do not violate HIPAA
rules/regulations. Most individuals
who have tested positive are willing
to voluntarily provide the test results
via text message or email. Privacy Precautions
Control interior areas of focus with security tape to prevent anyone from passing into an area of risk. Immediately clean all external
entrances, elevators, parking area
doors and touchpoints that may have
been used by the person in question Contact a local cleaning company to perform deep cleaning of any area where the individual may have spent a longer period of time or lingered. 
