Getting Back-To-Work | Reopening Your Silicon Valley Office Post-Coronavirus

If you’re wondering when and how to reopen your office… you’re not alone. Coronavirus has turned the world upside down and the lack of unified leadership hasn’t helped – especially when the federal, state and local governments have different, and many times conflicting, guidelines and mandates in response to COVID-19 and how we get back-to-work. Fortunately, the guidance is beginning to align and if you’re looking to reopen your office in Silicon Valley then the following will demystify the process and requirements of reopening.

The following outlines the process and requirements to reopen on the state and local county levels, but keep in mind that if a county order differs from a state order, the more restrictive order takes precedence. To date, the more restrictive order is likely to be at the county level. The latest state and county data concerning COVID-19 can be found here.

California State Requirements (COVID-19 Website)

The state of California has developed a 4 stage Resilience Roadmap in response to the COVID-19 statewide stay-at-home order, issued on March 19, 2020. This roadmap, which is updated regularly, serves as the guidance to provide a framework for how to safely re-open:

• Stage 1: Safety & Preparedness
• Stage 2: Lower Risk Workplaces
• Stage 3: Higher Risk Workplaces
• Stage 4: End of Stay at Home Order

At the time of this blog, we are in early Stage 2 which allows retail, related logistics and manufacturing, office workplaces (when telework not possible), limited personal services, outdoor museums, child care and essential businesses to open with modifications.

Before reopening, all facilities must:

1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and create a site-specific protection plan
2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19 – including how to screen themselves for symptoms and when to stay home
3. Set up individual control measures and screenings
4. Put disinfection protocols in place
5. Establish physical distancing guidelines

The state is issuing guidance by industry for businesses to follow, such as:

1) Office Workspaces: Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

• California Guidance for Office Workspaces – provides guidance for businesses operating in office workspaces to support a safe, clean environment for employees.
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 General Checklist – this checklist is intended to help employers implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is supplemental to the Guidance for Office Workspaces above.

2) Life Sciences: Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

• California Guidance for Life Sciences Industry – provides guidance for businesses operating in the life sciences industry to support a safe, clean environment for employees.
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 General Checklist – this checklist is intended to help life sciences employers implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is supplemental to the Guidance for Life Sciences Industry above.

3) Logistics & Warehousing Facilities: Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

• California Guidance for Logistics & Warehousing Facilities – provides guidance for businesses operating in the logistics/warehousing industry to support a safe, clean environment for employees.
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 General Checklist – this checklist is intended to help logistics and warehousing employers implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is supplemental to the Guidance for Logistics & Warehousing above.

4) Manufacturing: Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist in your workplace to show customers and employees that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.

• California Guidance for Manufacturing Industry – provides guidance for businesses operating in the manufacturing industry to support a safe, clean environment for employees.
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 General Checklist – this checklist is intended to help manufacturing employers implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is supplemental to the Guidance for Manufacturing Industry above.

Santa Clara County Requirements (COVID-19 Website)

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is tracking measurable indicators, which are complementary to those being tracked by the California Department of Public Health and the Governor, to evaluate how coronavirus is affecting local communities. These indicators are the basis in assessing whether and to what extent the local health mandates can be amended. Click for the current Santa Clara County Public Health Order. 

Violation of or failure to comply with the Santa Clara County public health order, a legal order issued under the authority of California law, is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

1) Businesses Allowed to Reopen: As of June 5, 2020, the following businesses are allowed to reopen if they follow the rules in the Santa Clara County Public Health Order and appendix:

• Essential businesses, outdoor businesses, businesses serving an essential governmental function and additional businesses per Appendix C-1
• Businesses not noted above must scale down their on-site operations to “Minimum Basic Operations”
• Below is a summary of the types of businesses already allowed to be open, and the additional businesses that can open starting June 5, 2020

2) Social Distancing: All business allowed to reopen are required to do the following before reopening:

• Complete a Social Distancing Protocol for each facility in the county
• Distribute a copy of the Social Distancing Protocol to all workers that work at the facility
• Print & post in a prominent place near the entrance to the businesses (i) a COVID-19 Prepared Sign and; (ii) a Social Distancing Protocol Visitor Information Sheet
• Post signage required in the Social Distancing Protocol to educate customers about health & safety requirements such as social distancing, face-covering and health/hygiene requirements (County sign templates)
• Implement the measures in your Social Distancing Protocol

3) Face Covering: Wearing a face covering is required when riding public transit or visiting a business (as an employee or customer). Businesses must post signs directing visitors to wear a face-covering when at their facilities. Otherwise, all other times when out in public, it is strongly encouraged to wear a face covering, but not required.