Businesses in Pennsylvania that are open and those planning to open for in-person operations are subject to the April 15, 2020 Order of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Secretary of Health, Rachel Levine, MD. That Order took effect on April 19, 2020 and provided businesses with guidance on the COVID-19 safety protocols to be implemented for both in-person operations that do not serve the public and those that do serve the public.COVID-19 safety response plansThe April 15, 2020 Order incorporates guidance directed at businesses from the Center for Disease Control. As a result of the Order and the related guidance, businesses should be preparing and implementing safety response plans which will be in place once they resume in-person operations.COVID-19 safety procedures flyerIn addition to this Order, the Governor has set out further directives that require these businesses to make employees and customers aware of the guidance provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This includes requiring businesses to “publicly acknowledge their responsibility to conduct their operations to ensure the health and safety of employees.” To satisfy this obligation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has created “COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses” flyers that must be posted in their premises: COVID-19 Safety Flyer (English) COVID-19 Safety Flyer (Spanish)These flyers must be signed by the business’s corporate officer, site manager, site foreperson or the equivalent with an acknowledgment that this person is aware of the COVID-19 safety procedures and understands their responsibility to carry out the guidance and procedures.The flyers must also identify the employee who has been designated the “Pandemic Safety Officer.” This is the person in charge of the COVID-19 safety procedures for the business.Once completed and signed, the flyers must be posted in common areas of the premises so they can be easily viewed by employees and, for those businesses serving the public, in a location near the public entrances in prominent locations. There is not, however, any obligation that the business return the signed acknowledgement and Pandemic Safety Officer designation, or a safety response plan, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.While these flyers are directed at in-person operations, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does note that businesses are encouraged to share the flyers with employees electronically as well.Attorney Loren Speziale collaborates with business owners and human resource professionals, providing legal guidance and risk management assistance with regard to personnel issues.