Managing COVID-19 as an employer

To help reduce the spread of communicable diseases and viruses including COVID-19, workplaces should have an infection prevention and control plan. Workplaces should consider whether doing certain tasks puts employees at greater risk of exposure.

Strategies for Employers:

Maintain Clean Facilities
- Provide clean handwashing facilities and alcohol-based hand cleansers in multiple locations throughout the building (e.g., entrances, boardrooms, break rooms, etc.).
- Post signage in the workplace, encouraging proper cough etiquette and hand hygiene (posters available here).
- Regularly clean workstations and objects with disinfectants that are touched frequently, such as doorknobs, handles, elevator buttons, and railings. Workplaces are encouraged to increase the frequency of cleaning the workstation/worksite to two times per day.
- Provide boxes of tissues and encouraging their use.
- Remind staff to avoid sharing cups, glasses, dishes or cutlery, and ensuring cups/glasses/dishes/cutlery are thoroughly cleaned using soap and warm water after each use, or placed in the dishwasher for cleaning.
- Remove magazines, papers, and other objects that cannot be cleaned from common rooms such as cafeterias, kitchens, break rooms, and waiting areas.
- Ensure ventilation systems are working properly including opening windows as weather permits.
Encourage employees to NOT go to work if they are feeling unwell (e.g., coughing, sneezing, fever, runny nose, etc.)
- Review sick-leave policies to encourage employees to stay home when ill to reduce transmission to other coworkers and clients.
- Review requirements for medical (sick) notes to reduce burden on the health care system and additional exposure to ill individuals.
Use social distancing techniques to conduct as much business as possible
- Encourage virtual meetings (telephone/video conferencing) to reduce prolonged, close contact between individuals.
- Discontinue non-essential work-related travel outside of Manitoba.