The ever-changing COVID-19 protocols can be very confusing, especially in regards to workers’ compensation benefits. As an employer, it is imperative to understand the laws in place in order to properly navigate employee’s rights.

Under normal circumstances, it is very difficult for an employee to file a workers’ compensation claim and receive benefits for an infectious disease, especially one that is widespread in the community. But state laws passed in response to the pandemic have made it easier to qualify.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life and work as we know it. It has been a period marked by rapid, ongoing change for many organizations. As employers begin to lift their pandemic-related safety requirements, they should also note the ongoing obligations to protect the health and safety of their employees and support their expectations of a post-COVID “new normal.” As businesses come surging back, management teams are responsible for leading their companies through these fast-moving changes.

As we enter a new era of workplace safety and security following the COVID-19 lockdown, employees should be able to confidently return to work, onsite or remotely, and administrators must have the peace of mind that they are complying with the new requirements. Getting back to work in the office while keeping employees and visitors protected from the current pandemic should be of the utmost importance to all employers.