501 Commons and Washington Nonprofits are teaming up to provide guidance and resources on “Returning to the Workplace.” This resources will expand and be updated regularly to help you determine and implement your workplace safety policies & practices for your organization. Please check back regularly for updates.
Your Legal Obligation to Provide a Safe Workplace
Now is the time to think about our legal requirements as employers and our moral responsibilities to our employees, volunteers, and community members. Here are some articles/tools to help you get started:
- This article in Harvard Business Review “Help Your Employees Who Are Anxious About Returning to the Office” provides a good primer on how executives/supervisors should approach this issue.
- Read Washington Nonprofits executive director Laura Pierce’s thoughts on what reopening means for the sector.
- Also, watch this 90-minute webinar provided by Washington Nonprofits on returning to the workplace that was recorded on June 23.
- Read Job Accommodation Network’s guidance on ensuring employees with disabilities can safely return to in-person work.
- If your organization is using a “hybrid” model where some workers remain remote, while others return to the office/workplace, check out the National Council of Nonprofits’ resources on managing a telecommuting team.
Download the free documents below that were created or curated by 501 Commons that provide guidance on crafting return-to-the-workplace policies and practices. Please bookmark this page since it will be updated frequently.
If you have a policy, forms, or a practice you would like to share, please contact Greg@501commons.org. Sharing resources will help us evolve our practices and lessen the load of doing this unique work.
Need more support?
The 501 Commons Human Resources program is available to provide consulting on compliance with workplace standards throughout the Pacific Northwest or in other states.
If you need quick advice or a question answered, you can get professional guidance Through our Quick Consults program for $25 per 15-minute increment up to two hours. We will attempt to respond to you within 72 hours.
- HR: Contact hrconsults@501commons.org
- Finance: Contact financeconsults@501commons.org
- Technology: Complete this form.
Masking and Distancing Requirements
ARPA Funding for Nonprofits
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides emergency grants to small businesses and nonprofits to help them hire/retain workers and recover from economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Check out a list of ARPA resources and links provided by Washington Nonprofits
- Peruse through this spreadsheet that tracks ARPA grants by WA county
- Read up on what ARPA is and its role in providing pandemic relief