Below are tips to help establish family-friendly policies in dental practices as many schools move online, according to the California Dental Association.
About 700 companies said child care was one of the biggest obstacles when asking staff to return to work amid the pandemic, according to a Gallup survey cited by the CDA.
Seven tips, per the CDA:
1. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires employers with less than 500 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave if the employee has a child whose school is closed. Employers should work to put a long-term contingency plan in place and outline specific policies.
2. Employers should consider alternate or intermittent shifts or hours, by mutual agreement; a reduced schedule; the ability to work remotely; and/or unpaid leave.
3. If an employer provides unpaid leave, they should document the requirements or restrictions in their employee policy and apply it consistently to all employees.
4. Employers should share information about free child care referrals with staff.
5. Some companies allow employees to voluntarily go on furlough to receive unemployment benefits while on leave to care for their children.
6. If an employer has temporarily allowed any employees to work a reduced schedule, those individuals could be eligible for reduced unemployment benefits.
7. Employers should seek legal counsel for leave-related questions.