WORKPLACES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The purpose of this tool is to assist employers in making (re)opening decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic,
especially to protect vulnerable workers. It is important to check with state and local health officials and other
partners to determine the most appropriate actions while adjusting to meet the unique needs and circumstances of
the local community.
Should you consider Are recommended health and safety Is ongoing monitoring in place?
opening? actions in place? ✓✓ Develop and implement
✓✓ Will reopening be ✓✓ Promote healthy hygiene practices procedures to check for signs
consistent with such as hand washing and and symptoms of employees
applicable state and employees wearing a cloth face daily upon arrival, as feasible
local orders? covering, as feasible ✓✓ Encourage anyone who is sick
✓✓ Are you ready to ✓✓ Intensify cleaning, disinfection, and to stay home
protect employees at ventilation
ALL ALL ✓✓ Plan for if an employee gets ALL OPEN AND
higher risk for severe ✓✓ Encourage social distancing sick
illness? and enhance spacing between
MONITOR
✓✓ Regularly communicate
employees, including through and monitor developments
ANY physical barriers, changing layout with local authorities and
of workspaces, encouraging employees
telework, closing or limiting access
to communal spaces, staggering ✓✓ Monitor employee absences
shifts and breaks, and limiting large and have flexible leave policies
events, when and where feasible and practices
✓✓ Be ready to consult with the
DO NOT ✓✓ Consider modifying travel and
local health authorities if there
commuting practices. Promote
OPEN are cases in the facility or an
telework for employees who do not
live in the local area, if feasible. increase in cases in the local
area
✓✓ Train all employees on health and
safety protocols ANY
ANY
MEET
SAFEGUARDS
MEET
FIRST
SAFEGUARDS
FIRST
cdc.gov/coronavirus