Blog: The California Workplace Advisor

You’re ready to re-open shop. You’ve developed a plan to safely reintegrate employees back to the workplace. But before you open your doors, have you determined how your plan applies to outside vendors and visitors?

Most businesses require some level of daily interaction with outside vendors or visitors, such as a client, deliveryperson, security guard, or contractor. However, the risk of transmitting COVID-19 has made it crucial for businesses to limit person-to-person contact.

Now is the time to consider limiting in-person visitor access onsite, and to encourage interactions by virtual means when possible. Where outsider access to the workplace is critical, businesses should consider implementing health and safety measures, including:

• requiring vendors and visitors to complete a self-screening questionnaire to identify potential risk of exposure
• screening temperatures before entering the workplace
• transitioning to e-signatures for deliveries
• limiting the number of vendors or visitors at a given time
• holding in-person meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces
• requiring vendors and visitors to wear PPE and/or having PPE available for vendors and visitors

As with all policies, communication is key. You should communicate your expectations and health and safety protocols with your vendors and visitors beforehand when possible, and consider posting signs at the entrance or providing health and safety guidelines to vendors and visitors upon entry of the workplace.

We can expect that social distancing in the workplace will be the new normal for some time. Chances are your vendors and visitors are implementing similar measures.

Questions about COVID-19 and the workplace? Contact the Hirschfeld Kraemer lawyer who normally provides your legal advice, or you can reach out to Ferry Eden Lopez in Hirschfeld Kraemer’s Los Angeles office, flopez@hkemploymentlaw.com, (310) 255-1826.

Did you miss previous posts in our Planning For The Rebound series? Click on the links below:

Step 1 – Requirements For Returning To The Workplace

Step 2 – Do I Have To Bring Back Furloughed or Laid-Off Employees?

Step 3 – Do Employers Need to Bring Back Under-Performers?

Step 4 – Ready To Go Back To Work? Not So Fast …

Step 5 – Passing the Test: COVID-19 Screening in the Workplace

Step 6 – Deciding Which Employees Can Return To The Workplace

Step 7 – Workplace Safety: Posters Are Not Enough

For additional employer-focused information about COVID-19:
Click here to see the Hirschfeld Kraemer EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TO CORONAVIRUS