With COVID cases continuing to rise, employers may want to consider certain steps and communications to help minimize the risk of COVID exposure in the workplace and encourage employees to think carefully about their holiday plans this year. In addition, new testing resources are available for employers in south central Kansas.
Holiday gatherings, travel and return-to-work considerations
In this Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings article, the CDC noted that small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses the lowest risk for spread.
The safest ways to celebrate include the following:
- Limiting gathering sizes
- Gathering outdoors
- Social distancing
- Wearing masks when distancing is not possible
- Limiting the duration of the gathering
- Practicing good hygiene
- Limiting sharing or touching of common items (e.g., have a designated server or individual servings)
- Isolating from others if you are not feeling well
If you have employees traveling during upcoming holidays, you may want to ask them to discuss their destination with you in advance. Employees should consider that they may need to quarantine following their return pending state guidance, and quarantine requirements may change while or even after they travel.
Employers may want to consider minimizing office time and implementing a short work-from-home structure for the weeks immediately following holidays in order to minimize risk of exposure and spread within work environments.
Testing resource for employers in south central Kansas
Businesses in the Greater Wichita region can now contract with and receive 24-hour COVID-19 test results for your employees from Wichita State’s Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory.
Read more about this innovative testing on the Greater Wichita Partnership website.
Other resources available through AGH’s COVID Playbook
Check out AGH’s recent playbook for more information regarding topics like how to develop mask and travel policies.
Contact Carrie Cox with questions or for assistance with determining policy updates, procedures and forms, and general compliance assistance using the information below.
Vice President
HR & Org. Development Services
Carrie has experience in a variety of human resource functions, including labor laws, compensation structures, employee classification, benefits administration, performance management and human resource best practices. She has served clients in a number of industries, including manufacturing, construction, banking, government, and not-for-profits. Carrie is a member of the national and local chapters of the Society of Human Resource Professionals (SHRM) and serves on the Wichita chapter board of directors.
She is a certified practitioner for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and the Hay Group’s Emotional and Social Competency Inventory. Her additional certifications include Certified Professional Coach from the Academy of Creative Coaching, Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute, and SHRM-CP designated by the SHRM.
Information in this document has been obtained by Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C. from sources believed to be reliable. However, AGH does not guarantee the accuracy nor completeness of any information. This communication does not and is not intended to provide legal, accounting or other professional advice or opinions on specific facts or matters, and accordingly, AGH assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with its use. Nothing in this communication can be used to avoid penalties that may be imposed by a governmental taxing authority or agency.