CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES
Recording Now Available: Q & A Webinar for HR Professionals & Managers
Speakers: Bodman Workplace Law attorneys Aaron Graves, Katherine Cser and Rebecca Seguin-Skrabucha
A Q&A session was held to answer your questions and concerns since re-opening your workplaces in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bodman Workplace Law attorneys facilitated a question-and-answer session to help you navigate those tricky situations that HR professionals and managers are faced with during this time. The recording is now available from the webinar that was held on Tuesday, May 19th.
Listen here to recording. (PASSCODE: 5BeM5h8r)
Recording Now Available: Can Employees Avoid Work, Avoid Discipline and Get Paid?
Many employers are facing severe staffing shortages now. Enhanced and expanded unemployment benefits and protections against discipline for failing to return to work have left employers searching for methods to maintain staffing levels. Listen to Bodman Workplace Law attorneys discuss potential solutions to these challenges. The recording along with a handout is now available from the webinar that was held Monday, May 4th.
Attention Green Industry Professionals: Work Safe!
We are all very pleased that the landscape industry was exempted in Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-59, one week ago. This decision was based on the industry following all of the safety protocols in order to keep yourself, your employees, clients and the general public safe.
Since our industry is now under increased public scrutiny, it is imperative that we follow the CDC Guidelines and also check with your local county health department. In addition to the safety guidelines in Order No. 2020-59, we are including safety protocols/suggestions that many of our member companies are utilizing (see below).
The MGIA is honored to represent the landscape industry and our Board and Staff hope that all of you stay safe and healthy.
With Clients:
- Get verbal and/or written confirmation from your clients that they allow you to work on their property.
- Communicate, as accurately as possible, when you plan to be on their property.
- Inform clients of the safety protocols your company has put in place, including but not limited to proximity rules (6 feet).
- Designate one on-site contact (potentially the foreman) for your clients. Ask them not to approach workers, other than this contact. Communicate by phone, text or email whenever possible.
- Be prepared to cease working if a client raises any health or safety concerns.
With Staff:
- Communicate and reinforce all safety protocols daily, via text and email.
- Train designated personnel (possibly foreman) to answer safety and health questions from the public and/or officials clearly and concisely. We recommend written safety rules to be carried with employees.
- In instances where employees will be on one job site all day long, encourage meeting on-site, rather than at the shop.
- In instances where employees must report to the shop, stagger crew start times to minimize proximity issues.
- Businesses should operate with the least amount of employees necessary on any site.
- All employees should have their temperatures logged at the beginning and end of the workday.
- If at all possible, limit crews to one person per truck.
- In instances where it is imperative two employees must travel together, pair employees together indefinitely. Require workers to wear glasses and masks while traveling. Assign them one truck that is not to be shared. Make sure the vehicle is as well ventilated as possible. Each vehicle should be sanitized at days end. If one employee becomes ill, both should be treated as if they are contagious. Follow CDC self-quarantine rules.
- Enforce sanitation of all common areas including trucks, storage rooms, offices, restrooms, etc.
- Wear proper PPE at all times.
- Minimize the use of shared equipment, making sure to properly and fully sanitize all equipment after each use. Always maintain proper social distancing (6 feet). In the event, employees must work close to one another, for heavy lifting, etc., wear a face mask and gloves. Once separated, immediately wash/sanitize hands.
RESOURCES
Class Cancellations
The following classes have been cancelled due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions. They will be rescheduled at a future date.
• CARTS Certified Applicator Training & MDARD Exam - March 23-25, 2020
• CARTS Recertification Training - March 23-25, 2020.
• Skid Steer Loader Training - March 26, 2020
• Tree Injection Symposium - March 31, 2020
