While there have been no national mandates requiring employers in the U.S. to screen employees for COVID-19, state and local governments have issued mandates for certain kinds of businesses or for employees who work specific kinds of jobs.
The restaurant and retail worlds should always err on the side of caution, of course, because employees in such close proximity to the general public present more opportunities to spread infections. Regular communication with local government representatives and health departments is the only way to ensure compliance with the most up-to-date mandates for any area and type of business.
The minimum recommended best practice is for employers to take the temperatures of employees daily upon their arrival at work by using a no-touch thermometer. A normal body temperature will vary from person to person, but never exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
The following states recommend that all employers do temperature checks:
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
The following states recommend that some employers do temperature checks:
- Colorado
- Nebraska
The following states require that all employers do temperature checks:
- California
- Kentucky
- Vermont
The following states require that some employers do temperature checks:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Utah
- Washington
The following states recommend symptom screenings other than temperature checks:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Virginia
The following states require symptom screenings other than temperature checks:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
For further details on mandates and guidelines, refer to state and local health departments.
For general employee monitoring and medical screening, ClearStar can provide solutions specific to individual businesses and industry-wide needs in addition to retail background check services that feature the exceptional candidate care employers and employees need during a complicated time.
