Businesses and Employers: COVID-19

Consider establishing business or organizational requirements or recommendations that address proven public health mitigation strategies, such as social distancing and face coverings. Depending on the type of business, certain mitigation strategies may also be required by Executive Order (see below for details and effective dates) or federal, state, and local law.

Public health mitigation strategies are especially important when COVID-19 vaccination rates of staff and/or visitors are either low or unknown, in settings that primarily serve children who are not eligible for vaccination (under age 12) and/or who were recently eligible and may not be fully vaccinated (ages 12-15), and in settings that serve high-risk populations with weaker immune systems.

Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws, employers will continue to be responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. For additional employer resources on these obligations, visit:

• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: Updates related to COVID-19
  
  
• OSHA Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

General business guidance

• Stay Safe Guidance for All Businesses
  This guidance requires all businesses and places of public accommodation to have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. It applies from Friday, May 28, 2021 until June 30, 2021 or until 70% of Minnesotans aged 16+ receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, whichever is earlier. Planning guidance and plan templates are provided.
  
  
• CDC: Workplaces and Businesses
  More information about COVID-19 and workplaces.

Health guidance

MDH and CDC have issued several guidance documents for employers.

• COVID-19 Recommendations for Critical Infrastructure Businesses and Industries (PDF)
  Updated 6/10/21
  
  
• Decision Tree and Narrative for Critical Infrastructure Businesses and Industries (PDF)
  Updated 4/14/21
  
  
• Employee Exposure to COVID-19: Contact Tracing Guidelines for Critical Infrastructure Businesses and Industries (PDF)
  Updated 5/3/21
  
  
• Health Screening (PDF)
  Poster for visitor and employee health screening checklist for building entrances.
  Other languages: Health Screening

  • Health Screening in Hmong (PDF)
  • Health Screening in Somali (PDF)
  • Health Screening in Spanish (PDF)
• CDC: Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces
  Refer to the question on screening employees for COVID-19 symptoms (such as temperature checks) for additional guidance.
  
  
• CDC: For Specific Industries and Occupations
  Public health recommendations and detailed guidance for many industries.
  
  
• Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response
  Posters such as social distancing at work, health screening, and more available for download and print.

Additional resources

• Food Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  State and federal guidance for food industry operations. Includes best practices for retail food stores, restaurants, and food pick-up/delivery services.
  
  
• Minnesota Department of Health Process for Assessing Situational Risk for Transmission SARS-CoV-2 (PDF)
  
  
• Guidance for Environmental Health Response to COVID-19 Cases in Regulated Business (PDF)
  Guidance for state and local environmental health specialists to expand the scope of the types of outbreaks to which they typically respond.
  Updated 12/14/20
  
  
• Disaster Mental/Behavioral Health and COVID-19
  Mental health and behavioral health resources specific to COVID-19.
  
  
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: COVID-19 Response
  
  
• CDC: Carpooling Factsheet (PDF)
  Information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when carpooling.
  
  
• CDC: Agriculture Workers and Employers
  Refer to “Special considerations for shared housing” section for guidance on shared and congregate housing.
  
  
• CDC: People with a Temporary Agricultural Work Visa (H-2A Visa)
  Additional information and considerations for people traveling to the United States on a temporary agricultural work visa.

Contact us

• IDEPC Comment Form
  Use this form to contact the Minnesota Department of Health for questions or comments about health related issues or this web page.
• Contact the State of Minnesota
  Use this contact form for questions or comments related to businesses and employment or other non-health related issues.