Affinity HR Group, a Big “I" Hires partner, has been frequently asked about how to clean an office, how long to send an employee home for, what to tell employees when there is a potential exposure and more.

Watch a video on critical resources or check out some of Affinity HR’s go-to resources that they use to advise clients below:

Emergency sick leave and paid family leave (FFCRA): The best source of information is the U.S. Department of Labor. It has a robust Q&A section, an employee notification poster, and other important information on its website. Also, keep checking the U.S. Department of the Treasury website, which is frequently updated.

Grants, loans and credits under the CARES Act: This act is massive and offers many different types of financial assistance. You are encouraged to have a financial adviser or accountant help you determine which one is right for you. The Treasury’s CARES Act web page is the best place to start your research. They also have some common Q&As on the Paycheck Protection Loan, and offer the Borrower Application Form to apply for this loan.

Maintaining a clean workplace: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and OSHA have issued guidance on how to prepare your workplace for coronavirus. The CDC also has mitigation strategies and other links to help reduce the risk of transmission at work. The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) has some guidelines for social distancing at work, as well.

Exposure at work: The CDC also has guidance on what to do if there is an exposure, such as cleaning recommendations and workplace sanitization.

If employees get sick: The CDC has issued guidelines on the symptoms of coronavirus. Of course, many of these symptoms accompany other common illnesses, such as seasonal colds and flus. Affinity HR is advising all clients to treat any illness as if it is coronavirus unless you are certain it is not. Employees at home with suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases should follow these guidelines before returning to work. They should not return until the following conditions have been met:

• At least three days (72 hours) with no fever without the use of fever reducers.
• Improved respiratory symptoms.
• At least seven days since the onset of symptoms.
• Two negative coronavirus tests no less than 24 hours apart after a previous positive coronavirus test.

Finally, remember to keep any health information about your employees private and to ensure you are complying with non-discrimination laws. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the place to find out about what you can and cannot do around communication, testing and responding to coronavirus at work.

However, as the pandemic progresses and new knowledge is acquired, these standards are changing every day. Affinity HR Group is committed to staying up-to-date on how you can keep your workplace, your employees and your family safe.

Paige McAllister is vice president, HR compliance, Affinity HR Group, Inc.

Affinity HR Group now offers an option for those seeking tailored HR support.  Pre-pay for one hour of ongoing consulting, used in as little as 10-minute increments, to address your unique HR issues for the discounted rate of $150. Contact Affinity HR  if you have any questions about this offer.

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