B.C’s top doctor has another reminder to employers that they do everything they can to keep COVID-19 from spreading in a workplace.

“That protects your business, your employees as well as your family and your community,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry. “And my expectation is that all companies will look at that and ensure they are doing everything they can to protect their employees, businesses and community.”

That said, Dr. Henry is not ready to issue an order to let people work from home, but she expects employers to follow new physical distancing standards put in place by the province.

“I’m not intending to issue an order at this point,” Henry added on Thursday. “My expectation is that every employer will look at how they can reduce the interactions of their employees in the community and in their workplace settings.”

While a number of companies are mandating that people work from home if they are able to, Dr. Henry was asked about companies that still require employees to come in.

“So if I run a graphic design business and I have 20 employees in a small enclosed space, then I need to find ways that they can maintain an appropriate distance from each other and that may mean staggering when who’s in the office, some people working from home at different times,” she said.

Henry says physical distancing requirements apply to all workplaces where crowding may be an issue. The move also comes as the province has banned all gatherings of 50 people or larger.