Retail Environment Best Practices
Overview
The information below outlines general best practices for retailers to help mitigate employee exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. The recommendations listed in this resource are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other similar workplace guidelines.
Retail generally means customer-facing stores that are engaged in retailing merchandise and services, such as grocery stores, hardware stores, clothing stores, department stores, shopping malls, and other like businesses.
The best practices outlined in this document are general guidelines and may not apply to your specific workplace, job task, or work environment.
Employers should always follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as public health agency directives.
Face Coverings
Wear face coverings in the workplace as required by law, your employer, or as recommended by the CDC.
Social Distancing
Refrain from handshakes, hugs, and fist bumps, and instead use no-contact greetings, such as a smile, a wave, a nod, a bow, or a thumbs-up.
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Maintain at least six (6) feet of distance from others.
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Consider all close interactions (within 6 feet) with coworkers, customers, and others as a potential source of exposure, as people may be able to spread COVID-19 even if they do not show symptoms.
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When possible, practice social distancing during pickup and delivery by talking with customers through a passenger window, loading items directly into the customer’s trunk without contact, or leaving items at their door.
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Use outdoor seating areas and social distancing for any small-group activities such as lunches, breaks, and meetings, if possible.
Use all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), provided by your employer, including gloves and eye protection.
On-Site Meetings
If possible, conduct work-related meetings outside or by phone or digital platforms. If on-site meetings are necessary, meetings should consist of small groups of employees who maintain social distancing.
Enclosed Areas
Minimize time spent in enclosed spaces, such as toilets and break areas, as these are potentially high transmission areas.
Cleaning & Disinfecting Protocols
When feasible, use contactless payment options and signatures for deliveries.
Where possible, ask customers to cease using reusable bags temporarily.
If possible, suspend or modify returns and exchanges, consistent with applicable law.
Close-fitting rooms, if feasible, and consistent with applicable law if fitting rooms are open, clean, and sanitize between each customer use or as otherwise required by law.
Clean and sanitize high-touch areas frequently, such as credit-card machines, keypads, counters, shopping carts, and other surfaces.
Follow all applicable cleaning and disinfecting protocols required by your employer’s policies or federal, state, or local law.
Commuting and Work-Related Travel
General Travel
Follow CDC travel guidance to protect yourself and others during travel to and from work and on business trips.
Wash your hands before you leave for work and when you arrive at work, as described in the course. Bring sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you are unable to wash your hands at your destination.
During travel, practice social distancing by keeping at least six (6) feet from others — for example, when you are waiting at a bus station or selecting seats on a train.
Wear face coverings in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, particularly when required by law.
Your employer may adjust work shifts to permit commuting during less busy times, consistent with business needs.
Consider using transportation options that minimize close contact with others (e.g., biking, walking, driving, or riding by car either alone or with household members).
Individuals who have an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should consider the risks and benefits of non-essential travel.
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Consider skipping a row of seats between yourself and other riders if possible.
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Enter and exit buses through rear entry doors if possible.
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After you leave the transit station or stop, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Public Transportation
In addition to the general principals listed above, you should:
As much as possible, avoid touching frequently touched surfaces such as kiosks, digital interfaces such as touchscreens and fingerprint scanners, ticket machines, turnstiles, handrails, restroom surfaces, elevator buttons, and benches.
If you must touch these surfaces, as soon as you can, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, as described in the course.
Use touchless payment and no-touch trash cans and doors when available. Exchange cash or credit cards by placing them in a receipt tray or on the counter rather than by hand, if possible.
When possible, consider traveling during non-peak hours when there are likely to be fewer people.
Rideshare, carpool, taxi, and for-hire vehicle passengers
In addition to the general principals listed above, you should:
Don’t ride in a vehicle if the driver or other passengers who don’t live with you are not properly wearing face coverings.
Avoid contact with surfaces frequently touched by passengers or drivers, such as the door frame and handles, windows, and other vehicle parts.
If you must touch these surfaces, as soon as you can, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, as described in the course.
Don’t accept free water bottles and avoid touching magazines or other items that may be provided to passengers.
Use touchless payment when available.
Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to only those necessary.
Avoid shared rides where multiple passengers are picked up who are not in the same household.
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Sit as far as possible from the driver, such as in the rear seat diagonally across from the driver. In larger vehicles, such as vans and buses, sit in the back seat so you can remain at least six feet away from the driver.
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Ask the driver to improve the vehicle’s ventilation if possible — for example, by opening the windows or setting the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode.
Health Monitoring
Employee Temperature Checks
Your employer may implement temperature checks before entering the workplace when allowed or required by applicable law.
Wellness Screening Program
Your employer may implement a wellness screening program when allowed or required by applicable law.
Employees with COVID-19 Symptoms, Diagnosis, or Exposure
You cannot report to work or remain at work if you have COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis, or exposure.
Consult with your employer on how to appropriately report work absences and COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis, or exposure.
Employers and employees should comply with all federal, state, and/or local laws or guidelines regarding when employees with COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis, or exposure are allowed to return to the workplace or when to report cases to state or local health authorities.
Additional Resources
If you have questions or need additional support, please consult with your employer and/or contact the government agency that manages COVID-19 in the workplace in your state and/or locality.
You may also find the following resources helpful:
Other Workplace Considerations
Contact your County Health Department for additional information and guidance as local requirements may vary.
Refer to government authorities and your employer’s policies and procedures for any other required COVID-19 workplace and/or job-specific safety measures, including but not limited to health screening, face coverings, social distancing, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
Workplace safety requirements and guidelines continue to develop as more information about COVID-19 is discovered.