--- title: "Employers' Return To Work Checklist - Practices and Policies" date: 2020-05-20T00:00:00-04:00 author: Import Bot canonical_url: "https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/client-advisories/employers-return-to-work-checklist-practices-and-policies" section: Client Advisories --- # Employers’ Return To Work Checklist - Practices and Policies May 20, 2020 Employers, as you plan for a safe return to work, there are several critical protocols and practices to consider. Below you will find a [Return to Work (RTW) Checklist](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/viewpoints/Return-to-Work-Checklist.pdf), created by the Kelley Drye [Labor and Employment](/Our-Practices/Litigation-and-Investigations/Labor-and-Employment) team to help you navigate getting back to work effectively. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact [Barbara Hoey](/Our-People/Barbara-E-Hoey) and [Mark Konkel](/Our-People/Mark-A-Konkel). ![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/viewpoints/employees-return-to-work-checklist.png) ## PLANNING A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE RETURN: INITIAL STEPS #### **Identify a Return-to-Work (RTW) planning team or task force:** - Include key decision-makers - Appoint a COVID officer to ensure compliance with polices and safety guidelines - Develop a ​“tracking” program: how will your company monitor and ensure that key milestones are met, policies are actually implemented, and being followed? #### Develop a RTW Plan – must address: - Which employees will return first? - When they will return? - What are the criteria for return? - Who will, or will continue to, telework? - What medical clearance will you require? #### Consider how will you deal with key issues, including: - Safety in the workplace - - Lower employee ​“density” in office - Best office hygiene practices (social distancing, temperature checks, sanitizer, etc.) - How to handle day-to-day safety logistics - - e.g., enforcing hygiene practices, handling sick employees in the workplace, and dealing with presence of third-parties on-site #### Develop a communication plan - Who are the communicators? - Train communicators on new policies, procedures—and especially how to handle questions - Communicate new policies to employees (see below) ## BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING AND UPDATING COMPANY-WIDE POLICIES ## KEY POLICIES FOR INITIAL RTW #### Develop Employee Health Questionnaire - Require employee self-monitoring and reporting - Address the ​“when” and ​“how” of how employees must disclose potential exposure #### Develop workplace screening policies - Train screeners - Ensure confidentiality of information gathered #### Develop safety policies and notices: - Workplace hygiene - Social distancing - Procedures for outside visitors (vendors, clients, couriers) #### Amend existing policies - Complaint reporting procedures - Disability accommodation processes - Harassment, discrimination, and retaliation ## EXPOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE POLICIES #### Establish a COVID-19 disclosure protocol #### Direct sick employees to stay home - Amend sick leave and PTO policies #### Develop Notice of Post-Exposure workplace clean-up #### Develop standard training plan for handling sick employees and exposure - Cross-train supervisors and managers ## LEAVE AND ACCOMMODATIONS POLICIES #### Revise existing sick leave and FMLA policies to reflect changes in state and federal legislation - e.g., the FFCRA, which remains in effect until December 31, 2020 #### Update Accommodation Policies to account for COVID-19 related requests - e.g., work-from-home accommodation requests ## TELEWORK POLICIES #### Revise or implement teleworking policies, including: - Develop a standard for requests and approval of telework #### Develop standard matrix to evaluate telework accommodation requests - For those who are approved to telework: - Develop standards for performance, hours, and expectations - Publish standards for office setup and security protocols - Amend disciplinary policies to address telework concerns - - e.g., Security violations, breach of confidentiality, and time theft #### Implement teleworking guidelines for managers: - Communicating with teleworking staff - Monitoring and documenting performance #### **Develop NEW workplace policies:** - Hygiene - Self-monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms - Social distance - Meeting limits - Travel limitations - Use of Sick leave and PTO ## FOSTERING TRUST AND NEW EMPLOYEE BEHAVIORS #### Communicate regularly with employees regarding the issues that matter: - Safety practices - Reporting employee concerns - Policy amendments - Updates on COVID-19 workplace matters #### Establish a central source (website, weekly email, call-in) for employee check-ins - e.g., telework request forms, FFCRA Notice, and time-keeping policies - Share this entry - - - - - [ View entry pdf ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/pdf-snapshots/employers-return-to-work-checklist-practices-and-policies-20230901122615_2026-07-26-055717_qqyx.pdf) ### Related Services - [Employment Litigation](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/employment-litigation) - [Labor and Employment Counseling and Compliance](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/labor-and-employment-counseling-and-compliance) - [Employment and Employee Benefits](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/employment-and-employee-benefits) Blog [ ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Listing-rectangles/Blog_Post_Listing.svg) ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Listing-Images/Trade_and_Manufacturing_Monitor.webp?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=750&q=80&w=1125&s=fa2fce63dfde7da177148c0e92116e0e) ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/trade-and-manufacturing-monitor/ustr-announces-final-tariff-rates-exclusions-and-tariff-rate-quotas) Trade and Manufacturing Monitor July 24, 2026 [ ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/trade-and-manufacturing-monitor/ustr-announces-final-tariff-rates-exclusions-and-tariff-rate-quotas) Article [ ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Listing-Images/AI_Head.webp?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=750&q=80&w=1125&s=068f8566021201ef249ea185eac69761) ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Listing-rectangles/Articles_Listing.svg) ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/articles/ai-is-amazing-your-ads-about-it-still-have-to-be-true) July 23, 2026 [ ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/articles/ai-is-amazing-your-ads-about-it-still-have-to-be-true)