
How to reopen safely
As you reopen, you’ll have numerous practical considerations, including HR policies, COVID-19 testing, and how best to communicate with customers and employees.
6 ways to help your employees with reopening
You have a safety plan in place, established new cleaning protocols, and reviewed your workplace policies for necessary updates. Here are a few additional considerations to help your employees feel safe and comfortable with the changes ahead.


Employee communications checklist
Having a detailed employee communications plan can help you share information effectively while also giving your workers more confidence in your plans around reopening. In addition to relying on your standard internal communications methods, consider the following strategies when communicating with employees about returning to work.
Customer communications checklist

As you reopen, it’s important to have a simple customer communications plan ready. Not only will it help to keep your customers (and employees) safer, but it will also demonstrate your company’s commitment to getting things right – an important bit of reassurance for many. The following communication strategies will hopefully give you, your staff, and your customers more confidence in your reopening.
Blue Shield Spotlight
Mary O'Hara on the challenges of reopening
“We won’t get it all exactly right – nevertheless, we have to take decisive action with imperfect information.”
Mary O’Hara, Chief Human Resources Officer, Blue Shield of California

Prioritizing employee mental health
Months of isolation, general uncertainty, and concerns over COVID-19 have left us all feeling drained. With the return to a physical workplace, your employees may need extra mental health support to manage the transition.
Be on the lookout for common ways mental health problems can manifest themselves, including:
Difficulty concentrating
Taking longer to do tasks
Difficulty thinking, reasoning, and deciding
Putting off or avoiding challenging work
Difficulty juggling tasks and responsibilities
Blue Shield Spotlight
Increased mental health support during COVID-19
Blue Shield is committed to your employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why we’ve expanded Teladoc® medical and behavioral health coverage to provide members with mental health services via phone, app, or video conferencing – ensuring virtual care to those who need it.
Blue Shield of California is eager to assist our partners in these challenging times. For more information about how to reopen your business safely, please .
Contact Us
If you have more questions, we’re here for you.
Small Businesses (1-100 employees):
Employer Services at (800) 325-5166Large Group Employers (101+ employees):
Contact your Blue Shield representativeBrokers: Producer Services at (800) 559-5905