Coping with Coronavirus: Fundamentals for Employers

​With the coronavirus pandemic bearing down hard upon us, employers are justifiably concerned, if not on the verge of panic, about the potentially catastrophic impact on their employees and businesses. Make no mistake about it, the coronavirus pandemic is a crisis in every sense of the word: a public health and safety crisis, an economic crisis, a social and psychological crisis, a threat to all we hold dear. In just a few short days, it has brought government agencies, many public services, schools, both public and private, and businesses to a screeching halt and is threatening to devastate the lives of any employer’s most valuable asset, its employees. To minimize the impact, it is imperative that employers adopt and implement a plan for crisis management and recovery. And each aspect of your plan must take into account both the practical realities and applicable federal and state labor and employment laws to ensure success and avoid any employment-related lawsuits or agency enforcement actions.

Determine individual crisis management responsibilities. If facing a suspension or curtailment of operations (that’s most of us), identify all employees who are essential to each continuing essential business function, determine whether they will be needed on-site or can work remotely, make sure they have the necessary tools and resources if working remotely, and clearly communicate their areas of accountability and responsibility and how to perform their duties effectively

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