Resources for Returning to the Office

Big Michigan businesses do not need to require workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular weekly testing after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday that prevents the Biden administration’s sweeping regulation from taking effect. But state health care facilities that receive specific federal funding must comply with a vaccine mandate, the court determined in a second ruling.

On Nov. 4, the U.S. Department of Labor released emergency rules from OSHA that will officially go into effect Jan. 4, 2022. As of that deadline, employees at companies of 100 or more must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested for the virus weekly. Learn how this will impact Michigan businesses.

MIOSHA is strongly encouraging Michigan employers to follow recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines due to the Delta variant of COVID-19. View the updated guidance.

Employers and employees across Southeast Michigan are preparing to transition back to in-person work. The Detroit Regional Chamber knows a shift this large doesn’t come without challenges. During a recent employer forum, national health experts discussed useful strategies for maintaining well-being amid return to office and the importance of staying up to date on routine vaccinations.

Michiganders can finally return to the office to work as of May 24. As companies start to make the transition of having employees come into the office, some businesses are making the transition slowly to make sure their workers feel safe.

Mark S. Lee, president and CEO of The LEE Group, MI LLC, discussed with the Detroit Regional Chamber the state of the city’s small businesses amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, including how businesses are managing throughout the crisis and the resources they need to survive.

Software solutions for workplace thermal scanning, contact tracing and touchless printing available to the public to help boost workplace safety in the COVID-19 era

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-166 that reinstates protections for employees in the State of Michigan.  Under the Order, the governor prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, or retaliating against employees who make the responsible choice to stay home when they or their close contacts are sick. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase mental health issues nationally, addressing the needs of employees dealing with these challenges is critical to business restart and recovery. Hear strategies and best practices from health care and wellness experts to support employees.

One of your employees was diagnosed as a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case. What should you do?

This session will give practical advice to help with recovery planning. Talent analytics, return-to-office surveys, scenario planning, and re-entry tactics are the keys to understanding who could remain at home long-term, what space will be needed, and how much re-entry may cost.

As the state’s economy continues to reopen, businesses are faced with the challenge of safely welcoming employees back, establishing work-from-home protocols, or doing both.

Last week, Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) announced it has launched rapid COVID-19 testing, together with CVS Health, at its downtown campus site.  Licensed health care providers from MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health, and CVS Pharmacy colleagues will staff the testing operation.    

Michigan has started to reopen the state in the past couple of weeks since COVID-19 cases have decreased and the curve has flattened. As businesses start to reopen there are key guidelines to keep employees and customers safe that will also help avoid a second wave. Start with the below resources as your business continues to return to a regular in-person schedule. 

Now that Michigan has transitioned into phase four of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, what does this mean for businesses attempting to resume operations in a safe and secure way?

Michigan continues to reopen as hospitalizations reached an all-time low this week dropping 82% compared to the mid-April peak. Today, Gov. Whitmer announced that on Monday, June 15, personal services including hair, massages, and nails will reopen statewide.

Chamber Vice President of Government Relations Brad Williams spoke with Natalie Chmiko, vice president of Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and International Trade for MEDC in a Tele-Town Hall on the free PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform.

As Michigan moves into the next phase of the “MI Safe Start Plan” and more sectors of the economy begin to reopen, guidance on safely bringing employees back to the workplace is critical.

At the Detroit Regional Chamber, we believe that nothing would be more economically damaging than a second economic shutdown due to COVID-19.

With the Governor lifting the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order this week, Michigan is moving to Phase Four of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.  What does it all mean?

Today, the Governor announced that she will rescind the “Safer at Home” Executive Order, moving the state into phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan — the “Improving” phase. 

To help reopening businesses safely reengage in the economy, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity launched the MI Symptoms Web Application as a cost-free way for employers to comply with Executive Order 2020-97 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees.

Businesses are working to reopen as Gov. Whitmer’s “Stay at Home” and other Executive Orders put in place amid COVID-19, begin to relax. It is important, and required, for businesses reopening to protect both their staff and customers. 

As businesses across Michigan prepare to reopen or welcome employees back, having the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect their employees and customers will help ensure a successful restart. Our goal is to help connect those who have supplies with those who need supplies.

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a number of Executive Orders that relaxed some of the “Stay at Home” orders. She updated Executive Order 2020-100 to extend Michigan’s “Safer at Home” order until June 12, 2020.

Employers are entering unchartered territory. They are reopening after a global pandemic brought the economy to a screeching halt for more than 8 weeks.

Over the last few months, the AIREA has been studying “Back to the Workplace” trends and ideas from many of the top thought leaders from around the globe. There are many diverse concepts and solutions that are being considered and there is no “one size fits all” answer.  

Building on Deloitte’s prior studies of recession playbooks, this session shares six imperatives for how Chief Financial Officers can help their companies navigate disruption.

As government and health officials begin to set parameters around reopening businesses, bringing your people back onsite successfully won’t be as simple as flipping a switch.

Miller Canfield’s Richard Walawender, Corporate and Transactions Group co-leader and Brad Arbuckle, principal attorney will discuss issues such as problems with logistics, bankruptcies, pricing disputes, force majeure, production delays, and liquidity squeeze.

Foley & Lardner LLP Partners John Birmingham Jr. and Jeff Kopp joined Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in a Tele-Town Hall to discuss employment best practices for restarting and continuing business amid the COVID-19 crisis. The pair took part in answering businesses’ urgent questions on what issues to anticipate moving forward and best practices for navigating the transition.

Quicken Loans, along with Rocket Mortgage and the Rock Family of Companies, has shifted focus to help get Detroiters back to work by increasing safety measures and by helping the city get people tested.

Given the human dimension of urgent workforce challenges and the uncertainties facing business leaders, the economic and business recovery from COVID-19 will require workforce strategies that focus on both short-term priority actions and long-term reaching for the future normal.

Furloughed employees agree to take an unpaid leave of absence in an effort to help their organizations cut costs temporarily.

As companies transition employees back into the workplace, safety and mental health are top of mind. Learn more about strategies to help employers navigate reopening businesses during COVID-19.