As part of Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order modifying and extending shelter-in-place, Illinois businesses must post this notice in common areas to notify employees of their rights.

Other highlights of the order include:

Continuing to encourage remote work

All businesses must evaluate which employees can work from home, and businesses “are encouraged to” facilitate employees to work from home where possible.

New requirements for manufacturers

• Maintain a six-foot social distancing between workers at all times;
• Provide face coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain a minimum of six feet of social distance at all times;
• Stagger shifts;
• Reduce line speeds;
• Operate only essential lines and shut down non-essential lines;
• Ensure that all spaces where employees gather, such as locker rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
• Downsize operations to the extent necessary to allow social distancing and provide a safe workplace.

New requirements for essential retail stores

• Provide face coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six feet of social distance at all times;
• Limit occupancy of stores to 50 percent of capacity. Alternatively, stores may impose occupancy limits set by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity based on store square footage;
• Set up store aisles to be one-way where practicable;
• Communicate with customers about the social distancing requirements; and
• Discontinue use of reusable bags.

Retail stores that are not designated as essential

These may re-open to fulfill telephone and online orders for pickup outside the store (i.e., curbside) or delivery. Employees working in the store must wear a face covering when they may come within six feet of another employee or a customer, and must follow social distancing requirements.

Other businesses not designated as essential

The new order also expressly requires that any businesses that are not specified as essential and/or eligible for limited re-opening “generally should cease activities” and reduce to “minimum basic operations,” i.e., the minimum necessary activity to facilitate employees to work remotely from home and to maintain the business’s inventory, preserve the business’s physical plant and equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, fulfill online and telephonic orders, and similar functions.

If you have worksite locations outside of Illinois, we encourage you to check with your local state health departments for any other required notices.

As an employer, it is imperative to stay informed of the frequently changing information surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Read More