More Massachusetts Businesses to Open As State Enters Second Step of Phase Two Of Reopening Plan

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that Step 2 of Phase II of the state’s four-phase reopening plan will begin on Monday, June 22, 2020, allowing additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines. Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step 2 of Phase II also must comply with all mandatory safety standards. This announcement comes as the state announces that key public health data, including new cases and hospitalizations, has seen a significant decline.

Phase II began on June 8, divided into two steps. The following will be eligible to reopen in Step 2 of Phase II on Monday, June 22, 2020:

• Indoor table service at restaurants;
• Close contact personal services (with restrictions);
• Retail dressing rooms (by appointment only);
• Offices, at 50 percent capacity (previously open at 25% capacity)

A full list of businesses opening and safety protocols is available at the Reopening Massachusetts web page. While office capacities increase to fifty percent in Step 2, Governor Baker urged employers to allow employees who can work from home to continue to do so, in part to limit the number of people taking public transportation. As with Phase I and Step 1 of Phase II, businesses reopening in Step 2 of Phase II must provide training for employees regarding safety measures, including social distancing and hygiene protocols.

It will be at least two more weeks before Massachusetts proceeds to Phase III. Although the Massachusetts Reopening Plan provides that each phase will last at least three weeks, Governor Baker stated he wants two weeks of indoor dining public health data in Step 2 of Phase II before moving on to Phase III. This means Phase III will start no earlier than July 6, 2020.

Reopening orders contain extensive requirements, creating compliance issues that can vary significantly depending on the specific state or local jurisdiction. Jackson Lewis attorneys are closely monitoring updates and changes to legal requirements and guidance and are available to help employers weed through the complexities involved with state-specific or multistate-compliant plans.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to the Jackson Lewis attorney with whom you regularly work, or any member of our COVID-19 team.