Employers are being forced to reconsider their strategies for dealing with the rapidly spreading Delta virus. They should reconsider policies such as requiring or encouraging employees to get vaccinated. Also, they should consider whether remote workers should not be allowed to return to the company's facilities. This article provides guidance on how to approach these issues.Infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in America due to the spread of Covid-19's highly contagious Delta variant. This is even though there are high vaccination rates. The spread of the variant has dimmed hopes that the pandemic will soon end. It appears to have evaded at least some immunity conferred by previous infection or vaccination. Low global vaccination rates mean that new variants could emerge that are even more dangerous. In the months and years to come, we can expect occasional cases and outbreaks of Covid-19. How can employers meet their difficult obligation of protecting their employees, customers and communities, while still allowing them to grow and prosper in this uncertain future?Employers have improved their strategies to prevent infection as the virus evolves. Employers can manage the virus now by being creative, flexible, adaptable, and adaptive to new outbreaks. These are the broad guidelines they can use.Encourage VaccinationVaccination is the best way to avoid serious illness, hospitalizations, or death due to Covid-19. Employers have been encouraging workers to get vaccinated. We conducted a May survey of U.S. employers and found that 82% of them had communicated the importance to their employees. This is particularly important as employers can be trusted for information on the pandemic.Communication works best when it draws attention on short-term benefits and includes stories. Statistics alone are less persuasive. Communication must be culturally relevant: Different influencers can spread the message about the importance of vaccination to the entire workforce.Sixty-two per cent of employers offered time off to get vaccinated, while 58% provided time off to treat side effects. Only 10% of employers offered financial incentives, usually under $100.It is important to make vaccination simple for those who aren't motivated. Worksite vaccination is a great way to increase vaccination adoption. In the pandemic, employers were not able to provide onsite vaccinations earlier because vaccine supplies were limited and required complicated storage and transportation requirements. Employers can now offer onsite vaccinations. However, there is a greater availability of vaccines at pharmacies and public sites.Decide if you want to mandate vaccinationEmployers are more interested in mandates that workers must be vaccinated to work onsite due to the Delta variant and the fact that Covid-19 infection is still a risk. Only 9% of employers who responded to our May survey reported that they required employees to be vaccinated. Mandates were most common in higher education and health care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the Covid-19 vaccine is likely to lead to more mandates in different industries.About 6% of Americans will only get vaccinated if required. Houston Methodist is an academic medical center that includes eight Houston hospitals and offers guidance to employers who are considering mandatory vaccinations.Take into account local transmission rates in return-to-the office decisionsThe community infection rate is highly associated with the risk of workplace Covid-19 transmission. Remote workers can be returned to work in communities with a low weekly infection rate (less than 10 per 100,000). Businesses can feel confident about this. There are communities where weekly infection rates exceed 50/100,000. In these cases, the risk of an employee bringing Covid-19 into the workplace can be very high. Employers can decrease this risk by delaying employee return, or by reducing the number of employees at work through hybrid work and staggered scheduling.Reduce Exposure Through Social DistancingRemote work and flexible schedules have made it possible to create social distance. Employers are gradually or staggered bringing remote workers back into the workplace to improve safety and to encourage them to adopt new working methods. Employers can use behavioral economists to encourage employees to keep their social distance at work. Two people should be able to use a conference room. Make sure that there are not more than two.Increase VentilationThe quality of ventilation in a building can impact transmission. Increasing the air exchange indoors will reduce the risk of getting sick. Improvements in ventilation don't necessarily require costly renovations. Many workplaces have the ability to add air exchanges or improve the filtration systems of existing air-handling systems. Some can also open windows. Employers can opt to not use ultraviolet light, as there is very little evidence that UV treatment of indoor air prevents Covid-19 transmission.Deciding when to recommend or require masksMasks protect against being infected by Covid-19 or infecting others. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends that everyone who is not vaccinated wear masks indoors. People with immune compromise should continue wearing well-fitting masks indoors, even if they are undergoing treatment for cancer, taking immunosuppressive medications, or have had an organ transplant. Employers may restrict employees who are not vaccinated from certain areas, such as cafeterias and gyms. This is because mask-wearing can be dangerous.Universal indoor masking is being reintroduced in more and more areas. Some vaccinated workers may opt to work remotely or wear masks indoors during local outbreaks. With rising infection rates, indoor mask mandates will likely increase. Employers can avoid any complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding masking requirements by adhering to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions Guidelines.Encourage testingAlthough only 18% of employers performed Covid-19 testing last spring, many employers will be re-examining the possibility of testing for the Delta variant. The cost of antigen testing is very low and the results can be accessed in real-time. Employers can direct employees to perform home testing and arrange confirmatory tests for anyone who has positive results. Employers who increase testing will likely pay for the increased costs. Employees should be told not to go to work if they are feeling ill.Be cautious when reinstituting travelMany companies also reduced domestic travel and stopped international business travel before the pandemic. Leaders should be cautious about allowing employees to travel to areas where there are high risks of Covid-19 infection. Instead, they should request that they conduct business meetings via videoconference. Leaders will continue to reduce their travel expenses and travel time in recognition of the environmental and cost-saving benefits.Communicate ExposuresOver the next months, many workplaces will be exposed to Covid-19 cases. Employers must be open with employees about their exposures at work, and respect the privacy of those who have reported to them that they have Covid-19. If an employee is symptomatic after being vaccinated, they should not be required quarantine.Support mental health careIn the next few months, it will be more crucial to pay attention to employees' mental health. The pandemic has seen an increase in anxiety and depression, as well as the highest number of deaths from drug overdoses ever recorded. Many mourn the loss of loved ones and friends. Although employers can offer access to digital and virtual mental health care, they need to be aware that there is limited scientific evidence.Keep up-to-date on the effectiveness of interventionsWe recommend that businesses stay informed about which measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and which are less effective. For example, 60% reported that their businesses were performing temperature screenings at work when employees arrived. Only a third of those surveyed said they would remove these screenings over the next few months, even though it has been proven ineffective in reducing workplace transmission.We now know that regular cleaning can protect against Covid-19 infection in most cases. Disinfection should be reserved for surfaces with high traffic and high-touch or workplaces where there is a history of Covid-19. Employers can increase their ability to implement pandemic and business strategies by removing safety-related items.Covid-19 is a human tragedy that has disrupted business plans around the world. The pandemic will not end soon, unfortunately. Employers and workers need to be flexible in their responses. Employers must be vigilant to implement new and existing processes that have been proven to keep their employees, customers and communities safe and meet the needs of their organization, regardless of what the local environment dictates.
