501 Commons and Washington Nonprofits teamed up to provide guidance and resources on “Returning to the Workplace.” These resources were created in 2021 and are updated periodically to help you determine and implement your organization's workplace safety policies & practices. Please check back regularly for updates.

Your Legal Obligation to Provide a Safe Workplace

Now is the time to think about your legal requirements as employers and our moral responsibilities to  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.
• To ensure the safety of your building occupants building water systems and devices, read the CDC's "Reopening Buildings after Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation."

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.

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