The current situation in the coronavirus crisis is difficult and unfamiliar for everyone. Most people are working from home and many offices are empty. However, some employees are still working in the office, which is why special measures must be taken there.
Employers are obliged to protect their employees well and minimize the risk of infection. Crowds are not permitted and a minimum distance must always be maintained. This also applies in offices. In many workplaces, the precautions are easy to implement and the distance can be maintained well. However, this is not the case in hospitals or retail stores. To ensure that the minimum distance can be maintained, certain measures must be taken in offices where employees continue to work from the office. In open-plan offices, employees must sit at their workstations at a sufficient distance from each other. Desks may also need to be moved apart. According to the employers' liability insurance association, the minimum distance between workstations should be at least 1.5 meters. The minimum distance should also be observed in shared kitchens or break rooms. In larger companies, canteens should be closed (employees should bring their own food). Employees should also eat alone and not in groups.
If there is any suspicion that an employee has been infected with the coronavirus, the employer is obliged to inform the health authorities immediately. The next steps will then be discussed and some employees may have to be quarantined. In the worst case, the business will have to close temporarily. To prevent the measures from being necessary, it is advisable to wear a face mask as soon as you leave your workplace, for example when going to a drinks machine. This does not protect you from infection, but it does protect those around you.
