SimplyHR | Employment & Labor Blog 

The city and county’s guidelines parallel one another in most respects. Among other requirements, both require the following of businesses:

• Social distancing: Maintaining a distance of 6 feet between employees and consumers;
• Employee education: Including on procedures related to social distancing requirements;
• Posting signage: Regarding face coverings, hygiene and social distancing;
• Encouraging telework (where feasible);
• Use of face coverings/face masks: Providing face masks or supplies to make face masks to all employees and volunteers working on the premises, requiring employees and volunteers to wear masks at work unless working alone or outside and maintaining social distancing, and wearing gloves when appropriate.
• Handwashing: Providing reasonable breaks for employees for handwashing or sanitizing throughout the day;
• Disinfection: Cleaning per CDC guidelines, providing material and education on the proper cleaning procedures and requiring employees to routinely disinfect all frequently touched surfaces by customers or employees; and
• Employee screening: Establishing daily protocols to evaluate employees’ symptoms and temperature and allowing employees to quarantine.

Retail establishments must also comply with capacity restrictions set by the state, city and county. The city’s guidelines include a sample Employee Health Screening Form.

In addition to the general standards, St. Louis City and County also provided business-specific operating standards for business offices, commercial office buildings, hotels and commercial lodging, manufacturing, construction and repair, retail services and malls, restaurants and bars, personal services and transportation.

This post is intended to be a quick synopsis of top takeaways for employers. Employers should note that the St. Louis City and County general and business-specific operating standards do not supersede public health orders, laws or regulations that apply to your business and jurisdiction.

If you have questions about St. Louis City or St. Louis County’s reopening guidelines or need more guidance as employees come back to the workplace, our Employment & Labor Practice Group attorneys are here to help and have recently recorded a Return to Work webinar.

Link to COVID-19 Resources page