Rhode Island Issues Work from Home Order "If You Can"

On March 22, 2020, Governor Raimondo issued the Seventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration that ordered "[a]ll business service personnel that can work from home are required to do so." The order was effective immediately and operates through March 30, 2020.

At the time of preparing this post, Rhode Island has not suspended business activities for "essential businesses." Based upon this policy, field construction services cannot be performed remotely so they can continue provided the following practices are in place:

Subject to the closures and limitations provided in prior orders and in paragraph 4 below, all businesses remaining open, must, to the extent practicable, implement CDC guidance to ensure social distancing, including:

• maintaining a minimum distance of 6 feet between persons;
• ensuring employees practice appropriate hygiene measures, including regular, thorough handwashing;
• ensuring that employees who are sick remain home; and
• regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Gatherings of ten (10) or more people in public or private spaces in Rhode Island are prohibited. In addition, businesses that remain open must post notices of these policies as noted in paragraph 5 below.

5. All public and private enterprises remaining open shall post appropriate notices requiring compliance with recommendations by the CDC and the Director of RIDOH including, at a minimum, those set forth above in paragraph 3 of this Order.

6. All gatherings of more than ten (10) people in any public or private space such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, library, theater, place of worship, parade, fair, or festival, are prohibited.

For Rhode Island news and updates about COVID-19, visit https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/.