Guidelines for Retailers Preparing to Re-Open

In good news for consumers and retailers, retail stores including stores and malls/shopping centers can re-open to guests on May 18 following Governor Walz issuance of Executive Order 20-56 May 13. The Minnesota Retailers Association worked with DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and a retail roundtable workgroup (representing retailers, chambers of commerce, associations, and other stakeholders) on re-open guidelines over the past few weeks. Those guidelines are listed below.

The guidelines below do not constitute legal advice and each retailer should do its very best to put in place a re-open plan tailored to best practices and safety for employees and customers.

These guidelines are not intended to apply to restaurants, bars, salons and other business where separate re-opening plans are being contemplated or businesses that are open under existing Executive Orders. We will post links to guidelines for these business when they are available.

Requirements To Re-Open

Best Practices Outline

The below items should be considered in the safety plan and included, excluded, or modified to improve safety for employees and customers. The safety plan should be specific to the store.

Health and wellness:

Evaluate employee health according to CDC and MDH guidelines and screen employees so that only well employees are at work.

Adjust policies to accommodate employees not working due to illness or COVID-19 symptoms.

Ask that only healthy customers feeling well shop in the store.

Social distancing:

Evaluate space, change configuration, adjust flow and modify occupancy with guidepost of 50 percent of occupancy rating or other occupancy metric with deference to ensuring social distancing per CDC guidelines and recommendations.

Control building access and regulate customer movement with consideration of one-way traffic.

Use signage at the door and throughout the store as well as public address system messages if available to remind customers of social distancing.

At checkout and areas of high congestion mark out social distancing, including floor markers for distance, line lanes, and marking adjacent areas where customers may be waiting for store access.

At checkout extend space between the customer and clerk with markings, physical barrier, or plexiglass divider.

Reconfigure space used for fittings to provide social distancing between customers and protections for customers and employees.

Encourage customer use of curbside, delivery, and appointment options.

Cleaning, sanitation & protection:

Execute an enhanced, thorough overall store cleaning schedule.

Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces frequently.

Make hand sanitizer available to customers and employees.

Follow Minnesota Department of Heath guidance and relevant Executive Orders on face covering use by employees and customers unless a stronger store policy is articulated.

Add protective shields at checkout where social distancing is not practical.

Clean fitting rooms, especially high touch areas, following each customer use.

Modify merchandise return policies to accommodate cleaning and/or delay of product return to shelves.

Make gloves available to workers and articulate when gloves should be used.