HOW WILL THE DOWNGRADE OF COVID-19 TO A CLASS B INFECTION AFFECT COMPANIES’ EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT？

Abstract

On December 26, 2022, China’s National Health Commission (NHC), a cabinet-level executive department of the State Council that is responsible for formulating national health policies, announced that the official name for COVID-19, the “novel coronavirus pneumonia” will be changed to the “novel coronavirus infection” (COVID-19 infections). The corresponding prevention and control measures for a Class B infectious disease will therefore be applied to COVID-19 infections, starting from January 8, 2023. Previously, novel coronavirus as a Class B infectious disease, but was subject to the prevention and control measures of a Class A infectious disease, as stipulated in the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. The downgrade of COVID-19 management means that China has finally decided to remove some of its most stringent travel restrictions, a move that has been long-awaited by business groups. On the other hand, the policy shift will also affect businesses’ employee management practices, such as salary payment and sick leave management. This paper looks into some employee management issues that companies may come across after January 8, 2023.