Retail industry group criticizes Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 standard

The National Retail Federation on Wednesday issued a statement crying foul over California’s new temporary standard that imposes COVID-19 safety requirements on businesses,  which the industry group described as “sweeping, unworkable and burdensome.”

The standard — which calls for such measures as testing, screening, tracking cases, creating a system for educating employees on the coronavirus, and altering work schedules — burdens “already struggling employers” with more mandates and was “adopted with little advance public notice or opportunity for comment,” the statement reads.

“From the outset of this health crisis and despite often contradictory and vague guidance from municipal, state and federal authorities, retailers have devised and implemented quantifiably effective safety procedures to protect their workers, their customers and the communities they serve,” the statement reads.

“These mandates add to the suffering of businesses throughout California,” NRF Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz said in the statement.

“With this emergency rule, the state is shifting more of the cost of public health and safety onto the backs of employers, many of which have been instructed to close at differing times this year. Even the most well-intentioned employer could find itself unable to implement these costly rules and be forced to close. Job losses will accelerate as businesses close in communities large and small.”

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.