State strengthening workplace COVID rules

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is pumping up enforcement of rules meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces. That comes as rates of new coronavirus infections surge across the state.

New guidance issued by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on November 6 states that they are especially focused on ensuring everyone who can work from home is allowed to do so.

What it means: The guidance from MDHHS states that “employers should only permit in-person work when attendance is strictly required to perform job duties.” That means a decrease is productivity is not an excuse for requiring an employee perform their job in person.

MIOSHA plans to increase its enforcement of workplace rules in the next week. That will likely include more in-person inspections of workplaces.

Penalties for not complying with the state’s emergency rules range from simply correcting the problems to fines of up to $7,000.

You can read more on the National Law Review.