By Jennifer A. Mancera, Labor & Employment Attorney
Beginning today Thursday, April 30, 2020, Monterey County is requiring the public and employees, including agricultural employees, to wear a face covering. Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties have issued similar orders.
According to the Order, all essential businesses must require their employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face covering at the workplace and when performing work off-site any time the employee, contractor, owner, or volunteer is:
Face coverings are not required if an employee is alone in a personal office but must be used when others are present.
Businesses must take reasonable measures to remind employees, customers, and the public of the requirement that face covering be used while inside of or waiting in line to enter the business, facility, or location.
Additionally, the Order discourages the general use of medical grade face masks, such as N-95 respirators and surgical masks. Because medical grade face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) should be reserved for health care workers and first responders, the Monterey County Health Department suggests using homemade face coverings instead of PPE.
To help employees comply with this order, employers should consider sharing the CDC’s Guides to make homemade face coverings, which is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.
Additionally, employers should consider sharing information available from the California Department of Public Health. The California Department of Public Health has posted the following guidelines for cloth masks/face coverings:
The Monterey County Health Department has Frequently Asked Questions available at https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=90138.
This article is intended to address topics of general interest and should not be construed as legal advice.
© 2020 Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss