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Public Relations · Published March 23, 2020

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

Guidance on Coronavirus in the Workplace

coronavirus workplace guidance for businesses and employees
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Companies and corporations are scrambling to adjust to what the COVID-19 pandemic means for day-to-day business. Industries and states that haven’t already been restricted by government policy are wondering if it’s time to close shop, or what to do if an employee contracts the virus. Furthermore, there are still essential businesses that will remain open even as the fight against the virus continues. Here are some considerations for how to best navigate this uncertain situation.

Review and revise office policies

Stay up to date with regulations put in place by the government which may limit how many people are allowed in the workplace or hours of operation. Ensure that your work from home or sick leave policies are flexible, and consistent with health guidance, and make employees aware of these policies.

Encourage sick employees to stay home

Human Resources should keep up to date on potential symptoms, high-risk travel areas, and CDC recommendations and be sure to communicate these to all employees. If an employee is feeling sick, or could potentially have been exposed to the virus, encourage them to stay home and monitor themselves concerning the CDC’s guidelines.

Infected Employee

Make it clear that any employee recently in the office who has tested positive for Covid-19 needs to share this information with HR. Employees who worked closest with the infected should self-quarantine and work from home for two weeks. If the office is still open, all employees should be sent home until the space can be thoroughly cleaned, and employees should closely monitor their symptoms.
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

View all articles by Ronn Torossian

Tags

  • communications
  • crisis public relations
  • 5wpr
  • strategy
  • insights
  • crisis PR
  • trends
  • covid-19
  • crisis communications

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