Plenty to think about in workplace as CDC eases mask mandates

Employers should expect many questions and possibly some complaints regarding mask requirements as the Center for Disease (CDC) has updated its guidance on mask-wearing. So says Susan Susan Motschiedler, an attorney at the Salt Lake City law firm Parsons, Behle & Latimer.

The CDC has said that now that fully vaccinated people (e.g. those two weeks past their vaccination or second dose of a two-dose vaccination) may stop wearing masks in most indoor locations. The CDC also stated that fully vaccinated people no longer need to physically distance in most places.

“Of course, the guidance from the CDC is not precisely the same thing as your office policy,” said Motschiedler in a post on the firm’ website. “Nor is it precisely the same thing as your local mask order ordinance, if your locality has one in place.  But we believe employees may begin to adjust expectations based upon today’s announcement, and that employers should be prepared to respond.”

“If you have not mandated vaccines as an employer, or if you have not collected information on those in your workplace who are vaccinated, you may be wondering how to weigh the risk in your workplace now that the guidance has changed, and whether to keep an indoor mask mandate in place,” the post said.

Motschiedler advises competent legal advice for questions such as whether to make vaccines mandatory, whether to discontinue your office mask mandate or how to weigh the risk of COVID-19 transmission in your particular business.