New Employer COVID-19 Requirements Coming to New Jersey

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Patricia Tsipras

October 30, 2020

On October 28, 2020, New Jersey Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 192 to ensure the broad application of health and safety standards regarding COVID-19 to protect workers in all industries.

The Executive Order becomes effective at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2020, and requires that every employer in the State abide by the following requirements:

• Require that individuals at the worksite maintain at least six feet of distance from one another, whenever possible
• Require that individuals at the worksite wear a cloth or disposable face mask, except under limited circumstances
• Provide masks to employees at the employer’s expense
• Provide hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to employees, customers, and visitors at no cost to them
• Ensure that employees practice regular hand hygiene, and provide break time and adequate facilities for doing so
• Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas, and clean and disinfect when an employee at the site has been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Conduct daily health checks of employees prior to each shift
• Immediately separate and send home employees who appear to have COVID-19 symptoms
• Promptly notify all employees of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite, while maintaining confidentiality as required by law

The Executive Order details each requirement and exemptions for certain employers.  It also provides information regarding the establishment of an enforcement mechanism to address employee complaints, as well as a training program to advise employees of their rights and encourage employer compliance.

New Jersey employers should review, update, and train on their COVID-19 protocols to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Executive Order.  We can help.

The author of this article, Patricia Tsipras, is a member of the Bar of Pennsylvania.  This article is designed to provide one perspective regarding recent legal developments, and is not intended to serve as legal advice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania,  or any other jurisdiction, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship with any reader of the article where one does not exist.  Always consult an attorney with specific legal issues.