COVID Reopening & Workplace Updates

We will update this post with state and industry guidance on reopening and return-to-work plans as new policies and guidelines become available. Review information from their sources as policies can and will change.

We will continue to update the COVID Resources & Relief Efforts page with updates to unemployment, SBA programs, and relief initiatives.

Please contact us if you have any recommendations or requests.


The Safe Way Forward: Joint Labor Report

Jointly released by the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and the Teamsters, the document "The Safe Way Forward" presents a path for employers to provide a safer workplace for cast and crew members in a pre-vaccine COVID-19 world. The 36-page report implements the more general guidelines set forth in the White Paper on reopening that was issued by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Task Force on June 1st.

The guidelines lay out recommendations for testing, physical distancing, a specialized “Zone” system, and new health and safety on-set positions, among other measures. The document will be further updated with specific safety protocols from IATSE locals, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters and the Basic Craft Unions as they are developed.

Comments on the report from IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, DGA, and others have been published in Deadline.

 
 


Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Report

The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Task Force's white paper was released on June 1st. It presents "guidelines for consideration and adoption for the resumption of motion picture, television, and streaming productions in an environment that minimizes the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19." 

Created with the participation of the major film and television Unions, Guilds, Studios, and stakeholder organizations – the report has been provided to state governments, including Massachusetts.

In successive phases, the Unions, Guilds and Employers are developing department-specific operational protocols and project-specific workflows, which will be subject to further agreement between the Employers and the respective Unions and Guilds representing the cast and crew.

Comments on the report from AMPTP, MPA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, and others were published in Deadline.

 
 

Reopening Massachusetts Updates

The state has announced that "motion picture, television and streaming" production is scheduled to resume in Phase 3. The earliest Phase 3 can begin is July 6th (note: this date was revised by the Governor on 6/19.) In the state's Four-Phase Reopening Plan, should the health data show an upward trend of cases, that date may be pushed further.

Also, the state has advised that: Activities that have been authorized to reopen in earlier Phases 1 and 2 (e.g. office work, construction) may open in those phases.

Updates and additional comments for businesses will continue to be announced on the page linked below.

It is important for businesses and employers to monitor updates within each phase, and review the workplace safety standards and notifications to be completed and posted on the worksite.

MA Reopening guidance for businesses.

Mandatory workplace safety standards.

Reopening City of Boston

For those with offices and worksites in Boston, the city has posted a number of resources to seek guidance. 

The city has also updated information on the framework for offices and commercial spaces with return-to-work strategies.