As the U.S. has begun to reopen with the coronavirus continuing to affect the country six months after many shelter-in-place mandates developed, workers across a multitude of industries — from manufacturing plants to agriculture to meat processing — are getting sick. Unfortunately for some, it’s become a reality where earning a paycheck means risking your life.
OSHA, the federal government agency charged with enforcing workplace health and safety, has been flooded with whistleblower complaints and few states have enacted laws regarding the pandemic. So what can companies do to operate successfully while keeping their employees and customers safe from COVID-19? Requiring face coverings, implementing thorough sanitation practices, and providing paid leave for all are critical, but businesses should also take into consideration the voices of their workers themselves.