The aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic looks gleam already. Most of us do not even know what the workplace would seem like post-pandemic! There can be such barriers that most employers might not have even thought of. Talking about America’s situation specifically, both employees and employers have to deal with an array of challenges.
Few employers cannot resume normal activities like earlier, while in some cases, employees are reluctant to make a comeback. Cases of few receiving more unemployment benefits after the structure of $600 every week have escalated. And the skepticism is coming to work is greater henceforth.
What Is Exactly The Scenario?
The add-on amount that few employers have been getting extends until July 31. But going by recent comments made, there is a strong likelihood that the extension wouldn’t happen. During this period, the people battling unemployment, from job loss or businesses closing down, largely benefit from this.
So they would need a continuation of these benefits from what was 26 weeks before to 39 weeks of eligibility. One thing might happen. Speculation goes rife that the federal amount might continue, but there be a reduction in the figures. Naturally, with all these, refusals to return to their normal jobs are more. And what would happen if those who return lose the job then? This additional benefit comes way handier.
How Stringent Can The Laws Be?
Now that reopening is almost certain. Employers should observe a list of rules, and thereby implement them consistently. For some time in the future, should obey these safety protocols against COVID 19 to the maxim.
And this comes after CDC, OSHA made these recommendations, alongside public health agencies at the state and local levels. The majority of these protocols like social distancing, hand-washing counters, face masks’ use at all times, complete monitoring of employees, and reconfiguring workstations repeatedly.
What Are COVID 19 Lawsuits?
Apart from undertaking vital and reasonable precautions to protects employees’ health and safety, employers in most cases are doing the most they can to avoid any possible state or federal enforcement actions. Few have already faced lawsuits, and thankfully few employers are trying their level best to see this doesn’t happen. Going by records, OSHA has recorded no less than 5000 complaints linked to safety measures at the workplace around exposure concerning Coronavirus.
About 2000 lawsuits raised claims against COVID stand filed in different courts across the country. Few lawsuits have also accused employers that there are inadequate PPE for workers. Then there were complaints like employers endangering employees’ lives after allowing people at the workplace without testing them for COVID 19.
There are negligence issues too, wherein employers have forgotten to inform employees about anyone or a few workers who have possibly tested positive. Those who lost their jobs and are battling unemployment for a long time now might not see the drawbacks of filing these claims. Maybe more workplaces reopening means a rapid increase in lawsuits against employers.
Workers’ Compensation Lawsuits
A major issue affecting employees is that Workers’ Compensation claims will also spike up, related to COVID 19. What complicates matters in these claims is that Workers Compensation is not applicable for the so-called “ordinary disease of life.” Besides, it’s not easy trying to prove that they got the disease on the premises. Community spreading of the virus can result in the commissions inspecting the space to see that it was because of the workplace. So arguments are likely to prevail among employers and their insurers over these claims.
Realistically speaking, it can be a troublesome affair to convince employees to come back to the workplace. This holds true even after proper sanitization and following the protocols to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. And it would be a tedious task for the employers to get the workforce back to the office spaces and resume normal operations.
Employers who look forward to restarting may experience significant issues in pushing back employees. So we can only wait and see what’s going to happen in the coming days. Until then, all we can do is to embrace this new normal and wait for things to fall into place. Remember, workplace safety is paramount, and the last thing you want is to cause a massive spread of COVID-19 from your office!