By HR and health & safety consultancy Peninsula Canada
The fourth wave is here, and cases are expected to continue rising. Employers must continue to follow public health guidelines and take every precaution to protect the health and safety of their workers.
Reports are showing that the majority of cases are among younger, unvaccinated individuals. Employers can encourage their workers to get the vaccine and support them in making this decision by providing education from reliable sources. Meanwhile, employers can continue to require masks to be worn in the workplace and enforce other measures, such as distancing.
Employers can do their part to limit the spread of the Delta variant by having staff work remotely and reminding staff to stay home even if they experience mild symptoms, such as a sore throat.
Workers should also be provided with support at this time as personal circumstances, such as children starting virtual learning, and mental health may affect their ability to work. Employers can provide accommodation, flexibility and direct staff to additional help via Employee Assistance Programs and government resources.
Peninsula is an HR and Health & Safety consulting firm serving over 80,000 small businesses worldwide, including dealers in home improvement. Clients are supported with ongoing updates to their workplace documentation and policies as legislation changes. Additionally, clients benefit from 24/7 employer HR advice and are protected by legal insurance.
