COVID-19 UPDATE

March 13, 2020

Reid & Hellyer Staff and Clients:

Amid increasing concern over the Coronavirus disease, Reid & Hellyer is taking steps to protect its employees and clients, and to protect the spread of infection.  We encourage all employers to implement policies that limit the potential threat of infection.

For the safety of our staff, to maintain our workplace and prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, all Reid & Hellyer staff are expected to follow precautionary practices for their own sake and that of their co-workers and clients.

We encourage all employers take these similar precautionary measures:

  • Wash hands often with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Cover cough or sneeze using a bent elbow and not a hand.
  • Use hand sanitizer gel if soap and water is unavailable.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • When sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Consider using a paper towel or tissue to open common area doors, wherever possible.
  • If you feel ill, please stay home.

Additionally, employers may want to consider the following issues/protocols:

  • In light of recent school closures, employers may want to make non-discriminatory inquiries to identify employees who are not able to work because of childcare issues.
  • Employers may want to offer telecommuting opportunities (in a non-discriminatory manner) as a reasonable accommodation for those employees with disabilities that put them at high risk
  • Employers may want to limit travel, particularly to any area which is considered an outbreak area.

Please feel free to contact the undersigned should you have any questions.

Very truly yours,

REID & HELLYER

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

Douglas A. Plazak

Disclaimer
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from Reid & Hellyer, APC or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this Post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.