Employee Safety During the Pandemic


“By sharing our experiences, we will all do a better job getting back to the office.” – Beth Roberts, SVP commercial business at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care


In the spring of 2020, non-essential businesses temporarily closed their doors in the U.S. as an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Students finished their school years from the comfort of their homes and many employees (who were able to) started to work remotely as well. The pandemic changed nearly every aspect of life, both personal and professional.

With so many employees trading their cubicles for at-home workspaces, this new way of working for many employers has included managing their teams remotely. However, as non-essential businesses have begun to reopen in varied capacities, it poses an important question for employers. When and how can the return to brick and mortar begin?

It’s a difficult question to answer, as reopening strategies for offices will greatly differ depending on what part of the country you’re in, how many employees you have and what state rules and guidelines you may need to follow. Some employers have begun to allow a small percentage of workers back into the office (provided proper guidelines are followed) and others have yet to open their doors back up at all.

With so much uncertainty arising as a result of the pandemic, it may be helpful to learn how others are beginning to transition back to office life. In June, Harvard Pilgrim facilitated a webinar discussion where we spoke to three New England-area business leaders who shared their reopening approaches. Check out the highlights from the webinar below.