COVID-19: Resources and Best Practices
The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and resulting economic crisis have created an unprecedented situation with unique challenges for businesses, families and communities. Together, we will face new challenges as state and local officials lift social distancing guidelines, reopen the doors of businesses and get people back to work. BKS Partners has put together the following resources to help you, your family and your business reduce risks and safely establish a new normal.
A Special Message from Our CEO
Latest COVID-19 Insights from BKS Partners
Latest News & Resources
Be on the lookout for email updates and webinar invitations from BKS Partners regarding COVID-19. View previous updates below:
- Compliance Update – January 14th, 2022 | Federal Vaccine Mandate: US Supreme Court Decision stays OHSA ETS and Allows CMS Healthcare Worker Mandate to Proceed
- Compliance Update – January 12th, 2022 | Agencies Issue Guidance on Coverage of OTC COVID Tests
- Compliance Update – December 20, 2021 | Court Reinstates OSHA Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers
- Compliance Update – November 19th, 2021 | OSHA temporarily suspends enforcement related to Vaccine Mandate ETS
- Information for Employers: Mandated Vaccines & Religious Exemptions
- Webinar Replay – November 12th, 2021 | Mandated Vaccines & Religious Exemptions
- News You Can Use – November, 4th, 2021 | OSHA has published the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on the COVID vaccine mandate
- Compliance Update – September 10th, 2021 | Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations – Information for Employers
- 2021 Employee Benefits State of the Market
- 2021 Commercial Property and Casual Market Outlook
- Webinar Replay – May 13, 2020 | Beyond Lockdown: Employer Considerations for Returning to Work Amid COVID-19
- News You Can Use – May 21, 2020 | P&C Market Update Navigating Uncertainty with Insight
- Podcast | D&O Liability in the COVID-19 Environment
- Webinar Replay – May 27, 2020 | Is This More Than Having A Rough Day? Mental Wellbeing, Let’s Talk About It!
- News You Can Use – May 28, 2020 | OSHA’s Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease
- Webinar Replay – June 11, 2020 | Navigating The Uncertainty With Insight – P&C Market Outlook
- News You Can Use – June 22, 2020 | Update Employers May Exclude Payroll to Employees Not Working for Workers’ Comp
- Webinar Replay – June 23, 2020 | How M&A Professionals Have Helped Businesses Survive Through & Thrive In Uncertain Times
- 2020 Commercial Property & Casualty Market Mid-Year Outlook | What’s Driving the Hard Market: Impact of COVID-19
- News You Can Use – October 9, 2020 | OSHA Clarifies Reporting Requirements on COVID-19
- News You Can Use – August 21, 2020 | Update on Insurance Impacts of COVID-19
Preparing Your Workplace
Click below for resources you can use while preparing your workplace:
- State-by-State Business Reopening Guidance
- SAMPLE – Opt-in Phase – Updated Business Policies & Guidelines
Posters:
The following risk management and insurance resources will help your business navigate new challenges as you reopen your doors.
- COVID-19 Business Interruption Info Sheet – BKS Partners
- COVID-19 Response Service Providers – BKS Partners
- Post-coronavirus Return to Work Cleaning Checklist – BKS Partners
- Designing a Post-Coronavirus Workplace – BKS Partners
- Return to Work: Updating the Office Poster – BKS Partners
- Reopening America: Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting – CDC
- Reopening America: Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Decision Tool – CDC
The workplace program templates below will help you mitigate risks specific to your industry.
- General Return to Work Program and Toolkit
- Restaurant & Hospitality Workplace Program Template (English)
- Restaurant & Hospitality Workplace Program Template (Spanish)
- Industrial Manufacturing Coronavirus Workplace Program Template (English)
- Industrial Manufacturing Coronavirus Workplace Program Template (Spanish)
- Construction Coronavirus Workplace Program Template (English)
- Construction Coronavirus Workplace Program Template (Spanish)
- Transportation Safety: Cleaning and Sanitizing CDL Truck Cabs During COVID-19
Preparing Your Workforce
The following resources are designed to help your organization develop responsible and sound back-to-work policies and plans.
- Remote Workstation Checklist
- Employer Considerations for Returning to Work Amid COVID-19 FAQ
- Return to Work Plans Following the COVID-19 Pandemic – BKS Partners
- Screening Employee Temperatures Upon Return to Work – BKS Partners
- Returning to Work Post-COVID-19 Presentation Template for Employers – BKS Partners
- 10 Tips for Employers on Reopening Safely – Benefits Pro
- New COVID-19 Guidance for Section 125 Mid-Year Election Change Rules – Legal Update
- COVID-19 Relief Extends Certain Employee Benefit Plan Deadlines – Compliance Overview
- EEOC Updates Employer Guidance on Coronavirus and the ADA – HR Compliance Bulletin
- Optum Emotional Support Help Line – United Health Group
Preparing Your Home & Family
When leaving your home and returning to your normal routine, the health and safety of you and your family is of the utmost concern.
Early COVID-19 Response Resources
- Compliance Update – January 14th, 2022 | Federal Vaccine Mandate: US Supreme Court Decision stays OHSA ETS and Allows CMS Healthcare Worker Mandate to Proceed
- Compliance Update – January 12th, 2022 | Agencies Issue Guidance on Coverage of OTC COVID Tests
- Compliance Update – December 20, 2021 | Court Reinstates OSHA Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers
- Compliance Update – November 19th, 2021 | OSHA temporarily suspends enforcement related to Vaccine Mandate ETS
- News You Can Use – November, 4th, 2021 | OSHA has published the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on the COVID vaccine mandate
- April 29, 2020 | Employers Should Separately Track Payroll for Employees Not Working
- April 16, 2020 | Business Disruption: Layoffs and Partial Terminations of Retirement Plans
- April 14, 2020 | The Impact of Lower Auto Usage with COVID-19
- April 10, 2020 | More Federal Assistance is Being Deployed
- April 9, 2020 | COVID-19 Business Disaster Recovery Assistance
- March 30, 2020 | $2+ Trillion CARES Act Has Been Signed into Law
- March 17, 2020 | A message from our CEO: We’re in this together
- March 12, 2020 | OSHA Releases Standards for Mitigating Worker Risk and Exposure
- February 28, 2020 | Resources to Prevent Exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- February 28, 2020 | Guidance for Employers to Prepare and Respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Webinar Replay – November 12th, 2021 | Mandated Vaccines & Religious Exemptions
- April 30, 2020 | Construction Insight Panel: Business Continuity & Resilience with COVID-19 and Beyond
- April 28, 2020 | Global Security Perspectives Regarding COVID-19: What You and Your Teams Should Know
- April 7, 2020 | Cyber Security – Is Your New Virtual Environment Safe?
- April 6, 2020 | Keep Calm and Carry On – Coping with the New Normal
- April 3, 2020 | Deeper Dive into FFCRA – New Laws – New Normal
- March 27, 2020 | The Employee Benefits Considerations of COVID-19
- March 25, 2020 | BKS Retirement Services’ State of the Market Webcast
- March 13, 2020 | Business Insurance & Coronavirus: How will your policies respond?
- March 13, 2020 | HR Policies & Pandemics: Preparing Businesses for the Coronavirus
Insights from BKS Partners:
- 2021 Commercial Property and Casual Market Outlook
- Navigating the Black Swan Event Guide
- Guidance to Mitigate Losses During a Pandemic Event
- Managing COVID-19 Risks Holistically
- Legislative, Legal & Policy Responses to Business Interruption Caused by COVID-19
- How will Business Insurance Policies Respond to Coronavirus?
Maintain a Safe and Healthy Workplace:
- Information for Travel – CDC
- Employer and Employee Planning Tool for Safe and Healthy Employee Travel – CDC
- When to Require Workers to Self-Quarantine – SHRM
- Map Out Your Emergency Remote-Work Plan – SHRM
- Social Distancing Guidelines at Work – SHRM
- 3 Ways to Keep Your Workplace Clean – SHRM
- Get Ready for Pandemic Flu: Workplace Settings – CDC
- Pandemic Flu Checklist for Workplace Administrators – CDC
- Conduct a Risk Assessment of Potentially Affected Employees – CDC
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 – OSHA
- Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 – CDC
Posters and Signs for Your Workplace:
Resources for HR and Payroll Managers:
Our friends at Hill Ward Henderson have advised that the United States Department of the Treasury issued certain documents, information and guidance with respect to the new Paycheck Protection Program and the loans available under it. The issuance included making the following available:
Download policy communication templates here:
- Auto Insurance Premium Refunds Information – BKS Partners
- Protect Your Children and Others From Pandemic Flu – CDC
- Protect Yourself from Flu at a Public Event – CDC
- What to do if You are Sick – CDC
- Get Your Household Ready for Pandemic Flu – CDC
- Practice Hygiene Etiquette When Coughing and Sneezing – CDC
- Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of Flu – CDC
- Understand the Symptoms of the Coronavirus – CDC
- What You Need to Know – CDC
- Plan for Florida’s Recovery – Re-Open Florida Task Force
- State University System of Florida Update – Florida Board of Governors
- COVID-19 Situation Summary – CDC
- COVID-19 Information for Workers and Employers – OSHA
- COVID-19 State Regulatory Tracker – Steptoe & Johnson LLP
- Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program – Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
- State Health Department COVID-19 Resources for Patients and Healthcare Providers – BKS Partners
- Federal and Florida State Business Disaster Recovery Assistance Programs – BKS Partners
UP TO DATE INFORMATION & RESOURCES FROM CDC

BKS Partners has transitioned to a virtual-first work environment to keep our clients and colleagues safe. Our colleagues are currently conducting business virtually to avoid any disruption in our ability to serve you. These measures are based on the CDC’s guidance and will evolve with the situation.