Complete Story
04/14/2020
COVID-19 Update from Governor Whitmer
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 4/10 - 4/13
Whitmer Outlines Criteria for Returning to Work Amid Growing Criticism
During a press conference held on Monday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that Michiganders will eventually get back to work and urges businesses to develop reopening plans. She cautions though that the state is not ready yet and that she will make her decision based on data-driven facts.
Trying to provide hope to struggling Michigan businesses and workers, Whitmer outlined four criteria to reopening the economy:
- A sustained reduction in infection rate
- Test and trace capability
- Health care capacity to handle a potential resurgence in patients
- Workplace protocols to keep workers safe
Whitmer said the state is working with business leaders, epidemiologists, economists and other experts on a plan to keep workers safe.
Michigan Shelter-In-Place Extension Includes More Business Restrictions
Source: Stephen Gee, Fisher Phillips, April 14, 2020
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just extended the state’s shelter-in-place order until the end of April – and created additional obligations for businesses operating during this turbulent time. The new order continues to only allow Michigan employers to require in-person work from employees who qualify as either “critical infrastructure workers” (CIWs) or workers necessary to “conduct minimum basic operations” (MBOWs). However, the new order is generally more restrictive than the previous earlier Michigan order because it places more duties on employers with CIWs or MBOWs.
Notable Changes For Businesses
First, the new order explicitly confirms that MBOWs and CIWs do not need to carry written designations of their status on their person when traveling to and from work. Despite this change in the new order, you should keep copies of their written designations at your worksite in the event government officials visit and request proof of compliance with the shelter-in-place order.
Second, the new order slightly expands the definition a CIW by adding:
- Car dealership employees; provided that showrooms remain closed to in-person traffic;
- Retail store employees that sell groceries, medical supplies, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and basic operation of residences;
- Workers at laundromats, coin laundries, and dry cleaners; and
- Workers at hotels and motels, provided the hotels and motels do not offer in-house amenities.
The hotel and motel exception appears to be aimed at out-of-town healthcare workers who travel to or within Michigan to provide services to hard hit areas during the pandemic. Notably missing from this list, however, are landscapers and real estate workers, which other states have considered essential.
Prepare your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19
During an infectious disease outbreak, such as the current outbreak of COVID-19, small business owners must prepare for disruption in their business as well as prepare to protect their employees’ health and safety in the workplace. The CDC has outlined ways to prepare your small business along with their Top 10 Tips to Protect Employees’ Health.
