Does your business have a pandemic response plan for COVID-19?

In the coming weeks and months, more and more businesses may be faced with figuring out how to deal if/when an employee (or employees) need to be quarantined.

We decided to share our response plan here to help other businesses prepare and think through their own plans.

Employees with fever (38.7 C or 100.04 F), cough, or difficulty breathing:

1. Stay home (self-isolate until cleared by health professional)
2. If symptoms appear at work, go home immediately
3. Call 811 to get assessed
4. Work from home using secure network if you are able
5. Return to work once cleared by health professional and/or symptoms disappear (fever or cough free for 24 hours without medicine)

Employees with a sick family member at home with COVID-19:

1. Notify supervisor
2. Supervisor to remain flexible and accommodating for the care and isolation of sick family members

Workplace safety:

1. If any employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, fellow employees will be informed of their possible exposure in the workplace while maintaining confidentiality.
2. Management to arrange public health assessment for employees

Other things we are doing to reduce our risk:

• Asking clients to refrain from coming to the office and to do business with us via phone or email
• Increasing frequency and intensity of office disinfecting of shared areas/surfaces
• Reducing access to shared spaces – lunch room, gym

We have intentionally set up our business to allow for all our employees to work online through a secure network. Our employees have received (or are completing) cyber security certification training as part of our cyber risk insurance policy to ensure they understand how to keep our business protected from cyber threats while working online.

Sadly, with something like COVID-19, business interruption insurance really doesn’t come into play. Business Interruption insurance covers the loss of income resulting from damage to insured property by a covered peril such as fire, wind, or water damage. Even if you have additional coverages for Civil Authority or Ingress/Egress, they will not come into effect because there is no physical damage causing the interruption.

Risk is part of business. COVID-19 is a new risk we all face together. What is your business doing to prepare for possible quarantine?