On October 28,Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 192, which creates a number of onerous new health and safety mandates on employers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Order mandates that, as of 6 a.m. on November 5, 2020, every business, nonprofit, governmental and educational entity that requires or permits its workforce to be physically present at a worksite is required to provide face masks to all employees, customers, and visitors at the employers expense. Employees must also be provided breaks throughout the day to wash their hands and routinely sanitize high-touch areas.

Additionally, per the Order, all workers must undergo a health screening prior to every shift and must be made aware if there is known exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. Everyone present at the place of business must maintain at least six feet of distance from one another to the maximum extent possible and individuals must always wear a face mask, with limited exceptions.

The Executive Order also creates an enforcement mechanism to ensure complaints and reports of noncompliance are addressed. To facilitate enforcement, the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) will establish an online complaint-intake form for workers. NJDOL and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) will also coordinate to create investigatory protocols, assist employers with compliance and pursue enforcement actions when necessary.

As the CCSNJ has stated numerous times to elected officials at all levels of government, employers want to and have been doing everything possible to protect their employees and customers as the pandemic continues. However, providing employers eight days to identify and purchase the appropriate additional personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as instituting arduous new enforcement measures that have the potential to unfairly penalize a business for lack of compliance is the exact opposite of the type of support employers need from government during this difficult time.

To read the Governor's press release, click here.

To read Executive Order 192, click here. 

 If you have any questions, please contact Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com.