How to Safely Reopen Your Business During the Pandemic
In this webinar, employment lawyers Tom Jardim and Scott Salmon discuss prudent steps to take before and when you reopen
As areas around the country begin to ease restrictions and workplaces start to reopen, it’s important to know what actions you should take to protect yourself and your employees.
In an insightful webinar chat, Tom Jardim and Scott Salmon, attorneys at Jardim, Meisner & Susser in Florham Park, New Jersey, and Reisa Elden of Houzz discuss the steps you should take to prepare your business for reopening, accommodating employee concerns and protecting yourself from potential liabilities.
The event was part of the Houzz Virtual Design Market (April 24-29). Read the highlights here and click the link below to watch the full webinar.
In an insightful webinar chat, Tom Jardim and Scott Salmon, attorneys at Jardim, Meisner & Susser in Florham Park, New Jersey, and Reisa Elden of Houzz discuss the steps you should take to prepare your business for reopening, accommodating employee concerns and protecting yourself from potential liabilities.
The event was part of the Houzz Virtual Design Market (April 24-29). Read the highlights here and click the link below to watch the full webinar.
Jardim and Salmon discussed a variety of topics related to safely reopening your business, including:
- When you can reopen your business
- Which employees you should bring back
- How to safely reopen your business and protect it
When You Can Reopen Your Business
Although every state, county and city is moving at its own speed in terms of when specific businesses will be allowed to reopen, there are some general practices you should implement now. “The short answer to when you can reopen is that we don’t really know,” Salmon says. “But there are some general rules you should follow.” These rules and practices include encouraging telework where possible, preparing for limited access to common areas and minimizing nonessential travel.
Although every state, county and city is moving at its own speed in terms of when specific businesses will be allowed to reopen, there are some general practices you should implement now. “The short answer to when you can reopen is that we don’t really know,” Salmon says. “But there are some general rules you should follow.” These rules and practices include encouraging telework where possible, preparing for limited access to common areas and minimizing nonessential travel.
Which Employees You Should Bring Back
When your business is allowed to reopen, it’s important that your process for deciding which employees to bring back is nondiscriminatory and recognizes that some employees may have legitimate concerns about not feeling safe to venture out. “Generally speaking, it’s good for you to be cognizant about the concerns of your employees. Even if your state has reopened, they may still be cautious about physically going back to the office,” Salmon says.
When your business is allowed to reopen, it’s important that your process for deciding which employees to bring back is nondiscriminatory and recognizes that some employees may have legitimate concerns about not feeling safe to venture out. “Generally speaking, it’s good for you to be cognizant about the concerns of your employees. Even if your state has reopened, they may still be cautious about physically going back to the office,” Salmon says.
How You Can Safely Reopen Your Business
When a state allows your business to reopen with an executive order, you typically won’t be held liable to anyone for having your business open. (You’re complying with the state’s executive order, after all.) However, this does not release you from potential liability stemming from federal OSHA regulations or state safety laws requiring you to provide a safe work environment for all employees.
“Every employer has to undertake a hazard identification analysis to identify any steps they need to take to reduce the risk of harm,” Jardim says. “And here the harm is obviously exposure to COVID-19.”
When a state allows your business to reopen with an executive order, you typically won’t be held liable to anyone for having your business open. (You’re complying with the state’s executive order, after all.) However, this does not release you from potential liability stemming from federal OSHA regulations or state safety laws requiring you to provide a safe work environment for all employees.
“Every employer has to undertake a hazard identification analysis to identify any steps they need to take to reduce the risk of harm,” Jardim says. “And here the harm is obviously exposure to COVID-19.”
Here are Jardim’s and Salmon’s top takeaways for safely reopening your business during the pandemic:
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- Begin to implement safety strategies and guidelines for your office now, even if your state has not eased restrictions.
- Make sure that your strategy for bringing employees back to the office isn’t discriminatory and recognizes employees’ legitimate concerns and fears.
- Protect yourself from liability by undertaking a hazard identification analysis to reduce the risk of harm.
More for Pros on Houzz
See more from our Resilience series
Learn about Houzz Pro business software
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program