WFAA interviewed employment lawyer Rogge Dunn about how businesses are handling the situation in which an employee tests positive for COVID-19 in the workplace. Because of the lack of a strict protocol and no obligation to publicly report positive cases, there is much uncertainty surrounding what measures business should take in response.
Dunn, however, said reporting cases within a business is a good idea. “The question is how safe do you want to be,” he said.
COVID-19 has put business owners in a tough position to decide whether or not to remain open. When an employee tests positive for the virus, this decision is even harder. “They’re balancing lost business versus getting sued for negligence,” Dunn said.
Another factor to consider in this decision is that what businesses owners think is reasonable greatly varies depending on the person. Therefore, business owners must choose whether or not they want to take the chance in remaining open.
For customers who are planning to continue visiting businesses, Dunn suggests that they read recent reviews and continue to check in on social media for updates. Ultimately, Dunn said “the best protection is yourself to be on guard and be on notice.”
The best way to handle COVID-19 in the workplace is unclear. However, business owners must seriously consider the risks versus the benefits in how they respond to the virus.
To view the WFAA news segment and the accompanying article, click here.
To speak to the employment lawyers at Rogge Dunn Group, click here.