Agricultural Employers Take Precautions

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In many areas, COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Even with this looming threat, the food system has remained resilient. This is thanks in no small part to precautions taken by agricultural employers. California Farm Bureau Director of Employment Policy Bryan Little describes some of the ways employers have helped protect agricultural workers.

Little… “We did social distancing. We redesigned workstations. We redesigned tasks. We have hand washing station and hand sanitizer out everywhere. We gave everybody masks. We did training on, you know, making sure you don't get too close to anybody. If you do make sure that you clean up well after you do that. Just ways that workers can protect themselves. To the extent that they provide transportation to workers, to make sure that they don't overcrowd that transportation I've even talked to people who I talked to employees about being careful about carpooling.”

Little says, in some cases, agricultural employers and industry groups have even worked with local governments to provide alternative housing to accommodate workers’ health and safety. All have a vested interest in keeping their employees as healthy and comfortable as possible in this environment.