As Michigan businesses slowly but surely get back to normal in the next few weeks; things are changing along with the rules in the workplace.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are allowing employees who previously have been working remotely, to return to their work offices and workplaces across the state of Michigan. Those that have been fully vaccinated, will see more of a traditional workday experience as businesses across the state are still determining rules and regulations for those who have not yet been vaccinated. Right now, for those Michigan businesses getting back to the office for the first time since the pandemic sent everyone home to work virtually, unvaccinated workers require certain expectations so that businesses will be in compliance with the new MIOSHA, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, rules.
In order to be compliant with the health department's new orders, businesses in Michigan with unvaccinated workers must do one of the following:
- Post signage in the workplace reminding those unvaccinated they must mask and distance
- Make allowances for those who are unvaccinated to continue to work remotely
- Require ALL workers to mask and distance, regardless of vaccination status
These new MIOSHA rules are available on the State of Micigan website. The good news is that this 10 page document has been reduced almost halfway, in hopes to make it a simpler process for workplaces in their return.
Michigan employers no longer have to require mask-wearing on the job, if employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 under new workplace safety rules issued. While those who are not vaccinated are asked to continue to wear a mask, only if, they cannot consistently maintain six feet distance between themselves and other individuals in the workplace. Along with this rule, it is also a under regulation that employers still must require employees to do a daily screening of their health conditions to determine if COVID-19 symptoms are shown. Records of those healthy screening must be saved on record for up to six months. These regulations are all stated in MIOSHA's new emergency rules that are currently effective.
As the new rules continue, the next one is a big one that many of us have been waiting for.. the end to the mask mandate. Any individual who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, no longer needs to wear a mask, indoors or outside. Employers are still required to provide employees who are not vaccinated or can't recieve the vaccine, a free face mask. Alongside this rule, employers are also required to develop and implement a written COVID preparedness plan.
Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must quarantine and let their close contacts at work know within 24 hours. Then, only after an employee is no longer infectious are they allowed to return to the workplace, whether they tested positive for COVID-19, or were suspected due to sypmtoms.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on these emergency workplace rules to be effective until Oct. 14.
