Travel policies, payroll, and leave: COVID-19 questions that won't go away

During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions regarding when employees may or may not travel, how to assess temperature checks at the front door, and a wide array of other issues have continued to crop up. Whenever employers feels like they've gotten their arms around the appropriate answers, circumstances change, with states opening and closing, infection rates spiking, and politicians continually issuing new direction and orders. Regardless of the day or the noise, however, some basic questions remain the same.

Persistent questions

What about travel? If your governor, mayor, or other state authority has indicated your state, county, or city is "open," it can be more difficult to limit personal travel for your employees. Basic safety and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considerations, however, necessitate that you talk with employees before they return to the workspace after personal travel.

Reasonable inquiries about travel include: