Veronica Gray and Allison Callaghan Discuss Safety Protocols for Reopening in California

Veronica Gray and Allison Callaghan were interviewed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for the article, “Businesses Develop Safety Protocols as California’s Economy Slowly Reopens.”

The piece provides an overview of how California employers can begin to reopen under the state’s plan, and notes that before starting up again, employers should take a number of steps—such as reviewing all relevant guidance from federal, state and local governments; evaluating risks at the workplace; developing and implementing a workplace safety plan and training employees on how to limit the spread of the virus.

However, the article notes that even with this guidance, many employers still have questions on what they need to do to reopen. Addressing the issue, Allison said that companies have a "clear duty" to ensure a safe and healthy workplace—but what that will look like at any given workplace may vary. Offering her thoughts on businesses monitoring the temperatures of employees, Veronica stated, "If a company decides that employee temperatures should be taken, it's advisable to outsource that task to a health professional." She further emphasized, "For health screenings, the company must ensure that it complies with all relevant legal requirements."