Temperature Screenings: Review State Laws

Carolyn Rashby spoke with SHRM about the U.S. state laws regarding temperature checks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Rashby says temperature screens should be required only on days when employees are coming to a worksite, not when they are telecommuting.

“Requiring temperature screenings at home may be a better approach for many businesses, including for privacy reasons,” she adds.

“Because not all employees will have a home thermometer, employers should consider providing thermometers or reimbursing for one,” she says. “In fact, reimbursement may be required in some jurisdictions.”

Ms. Rashby adds if an employer screens at work, it likely would need to pay employees for any time spent waiting line to be screened. In California, at-home screening may be compensable if the procedure employees must follow are detailed.