Covid-19 has underscored the vital importance of preparation, resilience, and adaptability for businesses striving to minimize risk and liability.

Throughout the pandemic, companies have had to evolve and adapt to perpetually changing medical advice and government requirements. Now, as much of the economy is reopening, businesses must remain both flexible and vigilant in their efforts to protect the health and safety of their employees. Tactics that worked six months ago may no longer be considered best practice, so these companies need to be monitoring public health guidance. They should also be conducting ongoing, comprehensive reviews of the effectiveness of internal programs designed to assess the well-being of employees and prevent the spread of the virus.

Return-to-work plans that focus too much on the question of "Can we?"—without enough attention to the question of "Should we?"—can expose companies to unnecessary risk. Even businesses that successfully navigated the uncertainty of 2020 may need to shift their efforts in the areas of employee health, regulatory compliance, and data privacy. Clear communication with employees at all levels is crucial to retaining their trust and reinforcing best practices across the workforce, which helps minimize workplace liability and protect against both known and emerging risks related to virus exposure.