skip to main content
Business Continuity

Returning to work after lockdown: Guidance to safeguard employee health

09/2020
people in the office looking at computers

To help limit the spread of COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic, many businesses worldwide temporarily closed or curtailed operations. When the worst of the outbreak ends and governments allow businesses to reopen, there are steps organizations need to take to protect their employees, customers and contractors. It’s important to keep in mind that guidance in this area is constantly evolving—if you’re considering policies surrounding worker safety, make sure to consult official government and public health protection sources for the latest information. Here is the general guidance to get you started.

 

  1. Provide employees with the right supplies and support

    Empower your employees to protect their own health and the health of their co-workers by providing what they need to stay safe, including:
     

    • Facemasks and gloves.
      If possible, provide your employees with facemasks and gloves—or encourage them to bring their own. Require employees to wear facemasks and gloves in accordance with the guidance of government public health authorities.
    • Cleaning supplies.
      Ask your employees to clean their work areas and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at the end of each shift. Provide sufficient supplies to complete this task.
    • Extra time for handwashing.
      When employees take breaks—especially for lunch—provide them with enough time to thoroughly wash their hands before and after eating. Recommend that employees wash their hands at the start and end of their shifts as well.
    • Paid time off.
      Encourage employees to stay home—and seek medical care—if they feel ill or have COVID-19 symptoms by providing sufficient paid sick leave.
    • Support for physical and mental health.
      Returning to work may be especially stressful for some employees. Offer your employees convenient access to services for both mental and physical health.
  1. Support a healthy workplace with operational changes

    In addition to empowering your employees to protect and care for themselves, consider making operational changes that will support employee health.
     

    • Clean and disinfect your workplace.
      Before reopening, clean and disinfect all work and rest areas, including the pantries—and determine whether you are required to comply with industry-specific disinfection and sterilization requirements. Ventilate work areas as well. Routine cleaning and disinfection should continue once you reopen.
    • Screen employees and site visitors for fever.
      Where permitted by applicable laws and regulations, when employees arrive for their shift, screen them for fever before they enter the workplace. Employees with elevated temperatures should be sent home and encouraged to seek medical care if needed. Screen customers, contractors, suppliers, and other site visitors as well.
    • Support social distancing.
      Take steps to ensure that employees keep 6 feet (2 meters) away from other people, including co-workers and customers. To maintain social distancing, consider taking the following actions:

      • Reduce the number of workers per shift—and add shifts if necessary.
      • Stagger shifts so that arriving and departing employees do not overlap.
      • Limit the number of people at in-person meetings.
      • Remove chairs and tables from pantries and break rooms to discourage employees from eating close together.
      • Mark work areas with tape to designate safe gaps between employees.
      • Spread out work stations.
    • Communicate and educate.
      The transition back to work may be challenging for some employees. You can help address fear and morale—and promote safe operations—by communicating openly and frequently with employees. Educate employees about practices that will help maintain a safe and healthy workplace and let them know about available resources. 
  1. Special steps for some employees

    While general precautions and safety steps will help all employees, you may want to take additional steps to meet the needs of certain members of your workforce.
     

    • Support employees recovering from COVID-19.
      Ensure that employees who contracted COVID-19 have—and take—a sufficient amount of paid time off work to aid their recovery and protect their co-workers. Provide additional paid time off if needed. Encourage employees to closely monitor their health and seek medical advice if symptoms recur.
    • Continue to support work-from-home employees.
      When you reopen, many employees may still need to work from home. Continue to provide resources to support the health and well-being of your work-from-home employees.
    • Accommodate high-risk employees.
      Older employees and those with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. Consider allowing high-risk employees to work from home, delay their return to work, or take on tasks with limited interaction with other people. Be mindful of employee privacy and anti-discrimination rules when supporting employees with greater health risks.

Additional health resources

Ministry of Health New Zealand

This content is brought to you by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited (“Chubb”) as a convenience to readers and is not intended to constitute advice (professional, financial or otherwise) or recommendations upon which a reader may rely. Any references to insurance cover are general in nature only and may not suit your particular circumstances. Chubb does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and any insurance cover referred to is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions set out in the relevant policy wording. Please obtain and read carefully the relevant insurance policy before deciding to acquire any insurance product. A policy wording can be obtained at www.chubb.com/nz-en through your broker or by contacting any of the Chubb offices. Chubb makes no warranty or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content. Readers relying on any content do so at their own risk. It is the responsibility of the reader to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the content. Reference in this content (if any) to any specific commercial product, process, or service, and links from this content to other third party websites, do not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation by Chubb and shall not be used for advertising or service/product endorsement purposes. ©2020 Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited Company No. 104656 FSP No. 35924. Chubb®, its logos, and Chubb.Insured.SM are protected trademarks of Chubb.

Contact us
Contact us

Interested in this Chubb policy?

Have a question or need more information? Contact us to find out how we can help you get covered against potential risks