The COVID19 pandemic stopped the entire world in its tracks for months. Businesses deemed non-essential had to shut their doors and have been anxiously awaiting the day that they can welcome back their customers, support their employees, and get back to doing what they love most. 

It has been a difficult time for the entire nation as the majority of people have been asked to stay at home and make the best out of unpredictable and uncertain times. All while being unable to be around family and friends or go about business as usual. 

Thankfully during the past few weeks, things have started to look up, and many businesses have begun putting plans in place to cautiously invite customers back while implementing added safety precautions that benefit and protect everyone who enters their workplace.   

We know so little about the coronavirus, it’s hard to predict how long it may pose a threat or when people will start to feel safe again. So, businesses are looking for ways to protect themselves, their employees, and customers while doing everything they can to keep moving their business forward. A Covid19 liability waiver will provide your business with release from legal responsibility if your customers contract coronavirus while visiting your company facilities. 

Is a COVID19 waiver Legally Binding?

Because our nation has never dealt with anything like the Coronavirus in the past, it’s difficult to know exactly what businesses can do to protect themselves from any potential lawsuits that could be related. However, there are a few ways you can make sure that your COVID19 liability forms are legal and valid and use them to protect your business. 

The courts have implemented three straight forward rules regarding liability waivers. 

1. You can’t assume risk you don’t know about
2. You have to assume the risk voluntarily

3. The waiver has to be consistent with public policy

In simple terms a COVID19 waiver can’t be signed by people going into places where they are explicitly taking a risk to enter. For example, a grocery store can’t ask everyone who comes inside to sign a liability waiver. However, if someone is attending an event where there will be large crowds, they could be asked to sign a coronavirus liability waiver before entering. 

Businesses also can’t enforce a COVID waiver if they aren’t taking all the necessary safety precautions to do their part to protect their customers and employees. This means they need to follow the CDC regulations and properly sanitize and enforce a 6-foot distance between patrons at all times. 

If your business carefully follows these rules and regulations while taking additional precautions, your liability form will serve as added protection. It’s also a safeguard to give customers peace of mind and let them know that you are going above and beyond to do your part to keep them safe when they visit your place of business. 

Benefits of a COVID-19 Liability waiver

Although you’re ready to get back to serving your customers, chances are you may be feeling the financial strain of a slow economy and having your business shut down for an extended period of time. It’s a fine balance of inviting customers back while ensuring that you’re looking out for your company's well being. A coronavirus liability waiver will allow you to do both, especially when there are many uncertainties about the future. 

There are a few key benefits to using a liability waiver that will help make it easier for your business to transition and welcome back customers quicker. 

Added Protection for Your Business

A COVID19 liability waiver will release your business of legal responsibility if your customers or clients contract the coronavirus when visiting your storefront or from interacting directly with your employees and management team. It also sends a message that you are doing everything you can to keep your customers and employees safe.

Online Waivers are Easy To Set Up 

An online liability waiver makes it easy for any business to protect itself from potential legal trouble while saving time.

The WaiverFile COVID19 waiver makes it super easy to create and customize the form within minutes and you can add any additional clauses that pertain directly to your business as an added measure of protection. Once you’ve made your desired changes you can start using it right away.

This makes it easy to streamline the process of collecting waivers while giving your customers peace of mind knowing that their health and safety are your number one concern. 

Customers Can Sign in Advance

It’s been common practice during the COVID19 pandemic for businesses to require customers to schedule an appointment to encourage social distancing. This makes it easy for you to send a liability waiver to them to sign even before they arrive. They’ll be able to take time to review and sign the form on any device, including their phone, tablet, or computer. 

There are multiple ways to send the waiver to customers so you can decide what is best for your business. 

• Share via Email/Text
• Add to Your Website
• QR Code
• Kiosk App

By requiring your customers to sign a coronavirus liability waiver before they arrive, you’ll be able to maintain social distancing, streamline the process and save them time when they arrive. Once a waiver has been signed, you'll be notified and can focus on providing your customers with the best service when they come in for their appointment. 

Check-In Tracking

If you’ve limited the number of customers that can enter your place of business,  makes it easy for your employees to identify who’s arrived and signed their waivers. This feature is great for birthday parties and large group activities. It also makes it easy to keep track of anyone who hasn’t signed a liability waiver or accommodate walk-ins if someone doesn’t show up for their designated time. 

You Must Implement Proper Safety Protocols 

Although a COVID19 waiver is a good place to start, keep in mind that it can only do so much. As a business, you will be responsible for taking extra precautions to ensure the safety and protection of your customers and employees.

The CDC has outlined specific guidelines for each industry so you can be sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your business safe. There are a few things you can do from the moment you open your doors to make sure you compile with the CDC and to give your employees and customers peace of mind.

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home and provide the flexibility to work remotely whenever possible. 

• Provide floor decals that enforce a 6-foot distance, especially in high traffic areas. 

• Limit the number of customers who can enter your store to make it easy to stay 6-feet apart from each other. 

• Schedule routine environmental cleanings every day.

• Sanitize surfaces in between every use of equipment or materials.  

• Make tissues, no-touch trash cans soap, hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) readily available to customers and employees.

• Provide a barrier at check-outs and customer service counters to avoid direct contact. 

• Encourage the use of masks. 

Download Your Free WaiverFile COVID19 waiver Form

We understand that these uncertain times are difficult for your business and WaiverFile wants to help! No matter your industry, the number one priority is to keep your customers and employees safe. 

We’re offering a free COVID19 liability waiver sample template. You can easily collect e-signatures while getting back to serving your customers and protecting your business.

WaiverFile Is User Friendly

We make it easy to use our waivers and you’ll be able to watch responses come in real-time through your safe and secure waiverFile account. Once a liability waiver has been signed and completed you’ll be able to automatically convert it into a pdf document, save it to your files and easily access it for reference if needed.

Our easy to use drag-and-drop form builder allows you to add our company logo, change the fonts and colors, and update the terms and conditions of the form. So, your customers will easily be able to identify that it’s coming from you. The best part is no coding is required so it’ll only take you a few minutes to create the waiver. 

Once your coronavirus liability waiver is ready to go you’ll be on your way to opening your businesses and serving your customers again in no time!