All - The state Department of Economic and Community Development last night released guidance for workplace rules, last updated on April 17, governing the use of face masks or cloth face coverings. I’ve also attached a simple poster that summarizes all this.

There has been considerable confusion regarding this issue and we will continue to work with the state to get you the latest information on these rules.

The updated guidance adds the following language:

• Each employee shall be required to wear a mask or other cloth material that covers their mouth and nose while in the workplace, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink. Employers shall issue such masks or cloth face coverings to their employees. In the event an employer is unable to provide masks or cloth face coverings to employees because of shortages or supply chain difficulties, employers must provide the materials and CDC tutorial about how to create a cloth face covering, or compensate employees for the reasonable and necessary costs employees expend on such materials to make their own masks or cloth face covering.

• In workplace settings where employees are working alone in segregated spaces (i.e. cubicles with walls, private offices, etc.), employees may remove their masks. However, workers shall wear a mask or face covering from the time they enter the building until the time they arrive at their cubicle/workstation and at any time they are leaving their workstation and moving around common areas (i.e. in hallways and stairwells, going to the restroom or break room, etc.). For employees working in congregate settings (i.e. open manufacturing floors, warehouses, areas open to the public, shared offices, or similar settings), those workers shall wear a face covering as above, as well as when they are at their workstation. In addition, continuous wearing of masks is not required in outdoor workspaces where employees do not regularly come within six feet of other employees.

The agency also added language to the Guidelines for Workplace Illness section:

If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should:

• Inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The fellow employees should then self-monitor for symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, or shortness of breath).
• Ventilate areas visited by that individual.
• Clean and disinfect all impacted spaces, especially commonly used rooms and shared equipment.