OSHA published “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” to help companies respond to coronavirus in the workplace.  The resources can be downloaded here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

It is a great resource to help employers with planning for steps to take over the next few weeks.

OSHA recommends employers take infection prevention measures, which include:

Develop, Implement, and Communicate about Workplace Flexibilities and Protections

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home.
• Ensure that sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
• Talk with companies that provide your business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
• Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
• Maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.

For more information on how California employers should respond to the coronavirus, our team has recorded a video discussing common questions facing employers, which can be viewed here: https://www.californiaemploymentlawreport.com/2020/03/coronavirus-what-california-employers-need-to-know/

Our prior article on Employer Contingency Plans for Coronavirus can be read here: https://www.californiaemploymentlawreport.com/2020/02/employer-contingency-plans-for-coronavirus/