So much has been said about the coronavirus, from the scientific, legal, political, psychosocial points of view.
All are valid (maybe not all) and interesting. But the fact remains, it has changed the shape of the world as we know it.
As soon as the World Health Organization declared the pandemic, many countries have declared their own (versions of) national emergencies.
It is still our new reality. The coronavirus is invisible, sometimes imperceptible, but its effects on the financial, psychological and social spheres are devastating and sobering. We do not see the end – not yet.The Government of Canada – both federal and provincial – are bent on meeting this crisis head on with all of us. At least we have that.
If you have not joined the scramble to put protections in place(actual, legal, social, psychological), you should start with policy.
If you do not have it yet, you should because it is imperative for companies to have a policy on coronavirus. Or policies should at least be updated – because the legal ramifications are real and serious. Messaging is important and critical at this point. But companies must also remember that their response must be reasonable and proportionate and must protect the human rights enshrined under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to occupational health and safety legislation,Employers have a duty to promote and protect the health and safety of employees, and paramount to this is the obligation to provide a safe workplace.
So the policy must outline what the company is doing in the face of the virus and what it expects from employees in light of thecoronavirus.
If you need help in drafting your policy for COVID19, call us at 604-630-2350 or get in touch.
