Reopening Businesses Face State Work-Safety Orders

Governors’ offices and state agencies are rolling out a patchwork of workplace-safety orders for employers as they reopen businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic. The orders provide potentially helpful guidance but add another layer of uncertainty over liability risk.

State Guidance: In Texas, for example, restaurants, retailers, and movie theaters are allowed to reopen starting Friday but must restrict their capacity to 25% of their building occupancy limit. Orders and guidance have been issued for employers in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee, to name a few.

Employer Risk: State enforcement is a relatively minor concern compared with the liability risk employers ...