What To Do When Employees Sue You For Putting Them At Risk For COVID-19

No business owner wants to be sued, but unfortunately, it’s a risk that comes with the territory. If an employee feels that you’ve put them at risk for contracting COVID-19, they may decide to take legal action. While it’s impossible to guarantee that your workplace is completely free of risk, there are steps you can take to minimise the chances of being sued.

If you find yourself in this situation, here are some things you can consider doing immediately before it gets too late.

Make Sure You’re Following All COVID-19 Guidelines & Recommendations

These should be implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Require everyone to wear masks, adhere to social distancing, and regularly sanitise surfaces.

Take A Step Back And Assess The Situation

The first thing you should do is to assess the situation. Try to determine if there is any merit to the employee’s claims. If there is, then you need to take steps to mitigate the risk.

Communicate With Your Employees

It is important that you communicate with your employees about the situation. Let them know what steps you are taking to protect them from the virus. Keep your employees informed of any changes or updates to your safety protocols. If you make a change that could potentially affect their safety, let them know as soon as possible.

Have A Plan In Place

It is important that you have a plan in place in case an employee does get sick. Be prepared to deal with any potential outbreaks in a swift and effective manner. This will help to limit the spread of the disease and protect other employees. There are small business health and safety consulting service UK specialists or experts your country relies on to help you come up with a reliable plan to deal with an outbreak.

Consult With An Attorney

If you are unsure of how to handle the situation, you should consult with an attorney. They can help you to understand your rights and obligations and to ensure you are doing things that won’t get you in trouble with the law.

Cooperate With Any Investigations That May Take Place

If there is an investigation, it is important that you cooperate with it. This will help to ensure that the truth is uncovered and that justice is served.

Take Corrective Action If Necessary

If it is determined that you did put your employees at risk, you should take corrective action, and there’s always a 24 HR health and safety advice for UK employers that you can rely on any time of day. For those outside the UK, a quick Google search should point you to a similar service in your area. The corrective action you would take may include changing your policies or providing additional training. If an employee does contract COVID-19, take steps to isolate them from the rest of the workforce and protect other employees from exposure.

Stay Up To Date On The Latest Information

As the situation evolves, it is important that you stay up to date on the latest information. This will help you to make the best decisions for your company.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a lot of uncertainty for employers, but it doesn’t have to be. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in the middle of an employee’s lawsuit against your company, wherein the employee claims that his or her illness was caused or exacerbated during working hours due solely because they were on your staff, the above mentioned are just some things that may help protect both parties involved.