We are living in unprecedented times. Businesses across the country have been shuttered due to the COVID-19 health crisis in an effort to curb the impact of the virus. As employers begin to look at reopening, many are worried that an employee or customer will contract the disease and sue, claiming that they got sick because the business could have done something more to protect the person, despite following the public health guidelines for reopening. This is already happening.

Employers need assurance that there will be safe harbors in place to protect them from opportunistic lawsuits. Businesses who follow the guidelines issued by public health authorities should be able to safely provide their goods and services without the fear of crippling liability.

There is no playbook for reopening. Business owners are already facing many challenges in this uncertain economic environment. We need timely, targeted and temporary liability protections to shield employers from legal risk when following the appropriate public health guidelines to protect employees and customers.

Please tell Congress that liability protections are needed to shield employers from litigation abuse.