Third-party logistics providers are critical to keeping the world’s food supply chain moving. Below are some suggestions for helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace. This information is an excerpt from GCCA’s Rapid Response Guide, which is updated regularly. Access the current version of the Guide on our Coronavirus Webportal.
All employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from COVID-19 while ensuring continuity of operations. All employers need to identify and communicate their objectives, which may include one or more of the following: (a) reducing transmission among staff, (b) protecting people who are at higher risk for adverse health complications, (c) maintaining business operations, and (d) minimizing adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains. Some of the key considerations when making decisions on appropriate responses are:
- Disease severity (i.e., number of people who are sick, hospitalization and death rates) in the community where the business is located.
- Impact of disease on employees that are vulnerable and may be at higher risk for COVID-19 adverse health complications.
- Prepare for possible increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members, dismissals of early childhood programs and K-12 schools due to high levels of absenteeism or illness:
- Employers should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism at the workplace. Implement plans to continue your essential business functions in case you experience higher than usual absenteeism.
- Cross-train personnel to perform essential functions so that the workplace is able to operate even if key staff members are absent.
- Assess your essential functions and the reliance that others and the community have on your services or products. Be prepared to change your business practices if needed to maintain critical operations (e.g., identify alternative suppliers, prioritize customers, or temporarily suspend some of your operations if needed).
- Employers with more than one business location are encouraged to provide local managers with the authority to take appropriate actions outlined in their business infectious disease outbreak response plan based on the condition in each locality.
- Coordination with state and local health officials is strongly encouraged for all businesses so that timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses in each location where their operations reside.
Much of the above information was sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – Interim Guidance for Business and Employers updated 3/18/2020.
See many more suggestions in our Rapid Response Guide.
Published Date
March 31, 2020