Business owners juggle many duties throughout the day with Human Resources as a huge umbrella over the many administrative tasks that must be conducted as a manager. Big or small, companies must be well-equipped to handle the challenges that HR responsibilities pose on a business. Unfortunately, even the most seasoned managers and owners have been plagued with HR uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most daunting aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is understanding that there is an entirely unprecedented level of care that is required in the workplace now. While it has always been important to understand that temporary disruptions occur due to health purposes, the current health crisis has brought with it, a whole new set of major disruptions for businesses.
Early information that was reported regarding the dangerously contagious nature of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) was extremely helpful for business owners/managers to understand the severity of creating a pandemic emergency plan if one was not already in place within their workplace. Best practices such as social distancing and proper sanitation were announced as the recommendation by the CDC which was an additional benefiting factor in combating the spread of the virus within the workplace. Most areas were under strict lockdowns which shut many businesses down which in turn suspended the spread. Things appear to be finding their way back to a sense of normalcy within the workplace with the return of workers with most businesses opening back up after the stricter lockdowns some states and cities experienced.
Businesses that are returning to the workplace (post COVID) have strategies in place to ensure the safety of their employees. Having a strategy in place and ensuring you are HR compliant is a critical step for owners and managers to follow to not only ensure the safety of their employees but for those who have received aid from the government’s CAREs Act, it is of utmost importance. It is imperative for businesses who are receiving aid through the Paycheck Protection Program to remain HR compliant in order to continue to benefit from the government program.
There are many questions regarding the return of employees to the workplace or changes that must be enacted during daily duties. 1 major question is the validity of masks being worn by not only customers but employees as well. Some have questioned the efficacy of masks despite the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or with states and municipalities having their own laws that require masks. This pegs the question: Can an employer require employees to wear a mask as a job requirement? The short answer from (Society for Human Resource Management) SHRM President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, JR.: Yes, employers may absolutely require workers to wear masks. Whether or not this answer was apparent to you, there are many variables that must be considered within the workplace as a HR conscious manager.
For assistance with keeping compliant in today’s new workplace environment, gain an HR partner from a trusted PEO. By ensuring you have a knowledgeable HR professional by your side, you can trust that your administrative duties of remaining compliant are being taken care of. This allows you to remain focused on your revenue generating duties of the day. Getting back to normal during the “post-COVID” phase we are in is going to be tough, get some help through it by contacting a trustworthy HR professional from Resourcing Edge.
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