Why is COVID Compliance Important in the Workplace?
According to the latest reports from Ernst and Young, more than 1000 countries have issued over 350+ regulatory notifications to deal with the pandemic and 150+ compliance obligations may arise because of COVID-19.
How will these regulatory changes impact businesses? All we know for now is that industries like travel, logistics, retail, and entertainment have received a direct hit because of the regulatory changes.
What can companies do to make these changes in stride and adapt to the new COVID-19 regulations? Why is this compliance so important for workplaces? Here are a few burning reasons why compliance will be the “new normal” in our work routines.
General Health & Safety
Since COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, abiding by COVID compliance is important to reduce the rate of infection. In fact, governments across the world have directed employers to provide work from home options to employees to limit contact and avoid all non-essential traveling to slow down the rate of new infections.
Companies are also implementing contact-free temperature checks and self-reporting digital environments like People1 Care to undermine any potential risks. Such actions are essential to negate the chances of infection and support the overall health of the employees.
Safety Against Legal Implications
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is a US federal labor law governing the occupational health and safety requirements for businesses in the United States. Adhering to these regulations converges with the safety of employees against coronavirus.
OSHA compliance is already required for businesses, and many of the regulations for COVID-19 Compliance are treated the same in court as OSHA violations. Thus, having a COVID compliant workplace will not only help keep the employees safe but also avoid any legal hassles.
Moreover, the Act also includes educating employees with accurate information for their physical and mental well-being. It requires companies to be able to prove that they have given their employees correct information to prevent the spread of infection.
In short, following COVID- based regulations will help streamline intra-company communication about the disease, provide helpful information for the employees’ betterment and thus, aid in avoiding disease contraction.
Health Risk Assessments
COVID-19 has made social distancing practices a new norm, which helps employers undertake a stringent risk assessment on a regular basis. Digital reinforcements like People1 Care play a pivotal role in undertaking these risk assessments which follow in line with the COVID related rules set by the government. With a combination of contactless communication, recommended practices enforced, and clear data on risks from regular assessments, employers can keep within regulations and protect their employees.
Community Welfare
According to an ICMR study, one person can affect 406 people in 30 days. Companies that are abiding by COVID-19 regulations are helping to reduce these numbers by limiting exposure, cutting down the chance of a single infection becoming a cluster case. So, in a way, when companies are undertaking stringent measures to curb the COVID-19 infection rate in their companies, they are automatically serving the community by limiting exposure to the virus.
Wrapping it Up
With workplaces opening and people going back to their offices, it is safe to say that the risk for exposure is always a threat. Taking the steps towards compliance can help mitigate the concern, but there is always more to be done. With solutions like People1 Care, it’s possible to assess your employees’ health, making risk assessment easier and helps leaders make informed decisions to keep us all safe and healthy.
What are your thoughts about COVID-19 compliances and regulations? What do you think their scope is in helping limit the impact of the virus? Let us know!
