In light of the Home Office now making regular policy announcements and issuing revised guidance, here are the main immigration law issues that employers may want to keep in mind in order to consider the implications of COVID-19 on their organisations.
Articles Discussing Human Resources And Other Workplace Topics.
What Businesses Can Do to Prepare for Further Closure Orders
Many businesses are beginning their re-opening phases, while others are being forced to close again due to COVID-19 fluctuations. In such uncertain circumstances, many employers are struggling to find a balance between the safe and efficient operation of their businesses, and preparation for potential closure orders and/or business restrictions.
Due
Navigating Limitations for Employer’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Despite best intentions, employers may be unknowingly setting themselves up for future lawsuits by improperly broadening diversity and inclusion initiatives. Many employers are dedicating more resources than ever to improving their corporate culture by focusing on diversity and inclusion, particularly in light of recent events. The intent for many
IRS Continues to Provide Relief for Nonresident Aliens in the Wake of COVID-19
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently posted a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on its website to provide additional information on Revenue Procedure 2020-20. The IRS published this revenue procedure on May 11, 2020, to provide relief for certain nonresident aliens stranded in the United States due to COVID-19-related
Using Emerging Technologies as Employees Return to Work
Natalie Pierce and Chase Perkins discuss the role emerging technologies – like robotics, AI and thermal imaging – have played in the workplace following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Ivy League Reinforces Its Commitment to Student-Athlete Safety With Cancellation of Fall Sports Amid COVID-19 Spikes
Once again, the Ivy League has sent a loud and clear message regarding COVID-19 to the college community. The Ivy League presidents have cancelled all intercollegiate sports until at least January, becoming the first Division I conference to officially suspend its fall semester football schedule in the midst of the
NLRB Specifies Recommended Protocols for Manual Elections During COVID-19
After months of permitting almost exclusively mail ballot elections due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the National Labor Relations Board released “suggested” protocols on July 6, 2020 for holding manual elections. These protocols will facilitate a return to in-person secret ballot voting, which is generally considered far
Guidance Clarifies COVID-19 Testing Coverage Requirements for Employer Health Plans
Employers have more clarity on COVID-19 testing coverage requirements—including new details on at-home tests, return-to-work testing, and out-of-network pricing—under new guidance that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury jointly prepared.
Mid-Year Safe Harbor Design Changes in a COVID-19 World
As COVID-19 continues its upheaval of nearly all aspects of life, retirement plan administration included (see some of our prior discussions here, here, here and here), the Internal Revenue Service recently issued guidance providing additional relief for the sponsors of certain plans. IRS Notice 2020-52 clarifies requirements for mid-year changes
Workforces Stranded Abroad Due to COVID-19 and Presidential Proclamation? Implications of Remote Work When Employees Cannot Enter the United States
COVID-19 has had significant implications on how employers engage a workforce—particularly with respect to U.S. immigration. The employment changes caused by the pandemic, combined with President Donald Trump’s recent proclamation prohibiting certain H1-B, H-2B, L-1, and J-1 visa beneficiaries from entering the United States, may forever change how U.S. employers
CDC Issues COVID-19 Testing Strategy Guidance for Workplaces
On July 3, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance entitled “SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategy: Considerations for Non-Healthcare Workplaces.” The new guidance recommends incorporating COVID-19 testing in five scenarios: (1) testing individuals with COVID-19-related symptoms; (2) testing asymptomatic individuals with a recent known or suspected
20 Tips for U.S. Virgin Islands Employers in 2020: Consider the Implications of the Supreme Court’s Bostock Decision
Conducting business in the Virgin Islands poses unique challenges not often encountered in the states, but also unique opportunities. This 20-part series will offer tips for doing business in the U.S. Virgin Islands, covering a broad array of topics affecting employers. Part six of this series addresses workplace rules, orders,
Lawsuits Against Colleges and Universities for Transitioning from In-Person to Online Classes: The Latest Wave of Covid-19 Litigation
Executive Summary: An Auburn University student claims he did not get what he bargained for in being relegated to distance learning instead of having an in-person educational experience. On June 30, 2020, Steven Bailey filed a federal court class action lawsuit against the university based on the school’s decision to provide online courses instead of in-person instruction during the Spring semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See Bailey v. Auburn University, Case No. 3:20-cv-457-ECM-WC (pending in the Middle District of Alabama).
Employers Should Review OSHA’s New Guidance on Safely Returning Employees Back to Work Post-COVID-19
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued new guidance for employers that clarifies previous guidelines for reopening businesses and returning employees to the workplace.
Senators Plan to Introduce Federal Legislation to Eliminate Use of COVID-19 Student-Athlete Liability Waivers
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker plan to formally introduce legislation, the “College Athlete Pandemic Safety Act,” to eliminate the ability of colleges and universities to use liability waivers as a basis for student-athletes to return to campus and resume training activities.
Reacting to the growing
Social Profiles