Workers Have Rights to a Safe and Healthy Workplace During COVID-19 Pandemic
NORTH DAKOTA -- While no one wants to be furloughed or unemployed indefinitely, recent surveys show that Americans have mixed feelings about returning to work right now.
In fact, 2 out of 3 people aren鈥檛 comfortable about going back to their workplace as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers 鈥� a finding that spans all generations of workers, according to a recent .
But with bills to pay, more and more North Dakotans are headed back to work at companies that should be following North Dakota鈥檚 Smart Restart protocols. But it鈥檚 easy to understand if workers don鈥檛 feel safe on the job because of COVID-19 鈥� especially in high-contact business sectors or if protocols aren鈥檛 being followed properly.
No one should be forced to choose between going to an unsafe workplace or staying at home and potentially losing their job. That鈥檚 why the 红杏视频 of North Dakota has teamed up with the North Dakota ALF-CIO to ensure that workers know their rights when it comes to working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In general, employers are obligated to take reasonable precautions to ensure a safe environment for their employees. But what does that mean exactly? Are employers required to take all precautions to prevent harm to employees in the workplace, including harm from a disease like COVID-19?
鈥淲hen it comes to COVID-19, you may have a right to refuse to work if you can show there is a serious risk of exposure to the virus, and your employer failed to remedy the problem,鈥� said Landis Larson, North Dakota AFL-CIO president. 鈥淵our employer is obligated to maintain a safe environment for you to work in. If you feel like you are at risk of exposure and don't know how to address the problem, we want to know. You have the right to work without fear of retaliation by properly reporting unsafe conditions.鈥�
Still, almost all workers in North Dakota are at-will employees, meaning an employer can terminate an employee at any time for any reason without incurring legal liability. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important for workers to know their rights and to document and report a formal complaint to OSHA.
鈥淭he workplace can be intimidating, and it may seem as if the boss holds all the cards,鈥� said Dane DeKrey, advocacy director for the 红杏视频 of North Dakota. 鈥淏ut you have the right to a healthy and safe workplace with adequate protections against infection and the spread of COVID-19. The 红杏视频 is committed to protecting basic rights of employees in the workplace, and has a long history promoting those rights through legislation, litigation and public advocacy.鈥�
The 红杏视频 of North Dakota and the AFL-CIO have created and will be distributing Know Your Rights information to workers throughout the state. A copy of the Know Your Rights information is attached.