Employers Need to Address CDC Holiday Travel Guidelines Now

Yesterday the CDC issued guidance regarding Thanksgiving travel and the rest of the holiday season. With COVID-19 cases surging around the country, the CDC suggests that Americans not travel for Thanksgiving and only spend it with people inside their household.

Many employers have taken the approach of using CDC guidelines as the benchmark for their own policies. So, with this CDC Thanksgiving guidance, questions will inevitably arise for employers and employees regarding how to manage employee holiday travels and desires to return to work. Similarly, employers may again find themselves addressing employee concerns of an unsafe work environment because of another employee’s travel over the holiday or attendance at a large gathering.

Employers should prepare for these questions by releasing guidance in advance of the holiday. Employer policies should address whether employees will be required to report travel or gatherings, quarantining policies, and pay concerns if an employee feels unsafe coming to work. This will allow employees to plan accordingly and safeguard against possible claims of differential treatment or discrimination.

The firm is here to help with preparing those policies. As you face the day to day questions of balancing business concerns, the law, and health and safety, the firm is here to assist in any way we can: info@barbascremer.com.