As employees start returning to work the majority of employers are shifting their focus to initiatives to keep them safe.   According to the latest COVID-19 pulse survey by Willis Towers Watson nearly 40% of employers expect enhancing programs and actions around employee safety to be a priority over the next six months.  The last time this survey was ran in April only 27% of employers expected safety programs to be an important priority.

“Companies want to make employees feel comfortable returning to their workspaces,” said Regina Ihrke, senior director and Wellbeing leader, North America, Willis Towers Watson. “To that end, employers are making employee safety and health a top priority with a wide range of actions to safeguard the work environment and minimize exposure to the virus.”

Some of the more prevalent actions employers are taking to keep employees safe are:

• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks (76%)

• Develop clear policies and procedures on workplace safety and employee hygiene (71%)

• Distribute worksite COVID-19 signage and cues (69%)

• Prepare a stock of vital supplies (68%)

• Review/update workplace safety protocols (68%)

• Create a plan for exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace (63%)

While two-thirds of employers have taken action to keep their workplaces clean and create processes to deal with an exposure in the workplace, only one-third have created a plan for subsequent waves of infection in the community. Ventilation is an issue that needs management review.  It has been found that although people have not had contact with others, they still got the virus.  Therefore, it is important that office ventilation is reviewed, even if employees are working from separate offices.  Half of employers reported that they are still in the planning stage regarding any actions to prepare for another wave of COVID-19. 

While most employers might not have an actual plan for handling a second wave, the increase in remote work certainly will make any transition from office back to home more efficient.  27% of employers have changed policies to encourage remote work and for the 69% of employees who can complete their work remotely their employer will provide flexibility to do so for a longer period.  Last year only 11% of employees were working remotely; currently 60% are doing so.  In looking to the future, employers expect 34% of employees to be remote in the first quarter of next year.

Additional ASE Resources
Webinar: Workplace Safety Briefing - To further assist ASE members with their COVID-19 safety and health programs, ASE along with SBAM is pleased to host Sean Egan, Michigan Director, Workplace Safety this Friday at 2:00 p.m. for a webinar that will address workplace safety initiatives and employers’ constructive response to COVID-19. This briefing will provide an update on state employer safety and health compliance initiatives as well as workplace response programs that the state is supporting through its COVID-19 programs.  Register here.

Response Plan Template - ASE has created a template COVID-19 Response Plan that is complimentary to our members.  Learn more here.

Contagious Diseases and Pandemic Toolkit - This toolkit, complimentary to ASE members, will help your organization respond appropriately to a pandemic emergency and contains over 50 tools, forms, and template policies specifically written for COVID-19 as well as over 50 useful links for easy reference to local, state, and federal resources.  Learn more here.

Virtual Work Resources - ASE has compiled a list of resources available to help you implement a virtual work program quickly and effectively.  View here.

Source: Willis Towers Watson