The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided resources with tips and recommendations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when carpooling or ridesharing to and from work.
Articles Discussing Workplace Issues Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Commercial Property Management Considerations in the New COVID-19 Reality
Commercial property management companies face unique operational challenges during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a COVID-19 health and safety plan is becoming more important every day.
Maintain your Distance: Solving COVID-19 Safety Issues Through Automation
Alka Ramchandani-Raj, member of the Workplace Safety and Health practice, and Michael Chichester, Co-Chair of the Robotics, AI and Automation practice, discuss key safety considerations as employers rapidly adopt automated technologies to aid their workforces in response to the current pandemic.
Joint Employment Concerns with Franchisor-Developed COVID-19 Safety Policies
September 28, 2020
As businesses return to in-person work, employers and employees are keenly aware that the workplace has changed. Employment and workplace-related challenges are issues that have touched nearly every American in some way. One of the most common changes employers and employees are experiencing is the development, implementation, and compliance with enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures. Developing and implementing safety procedures is a way in which businesses are attempting to keep their customers safe, protect themselves from litigation risk, and demonstrate social responsibility and care for the consuming public.
EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Guidance with Added Resources
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC”) has updated its technical assistance document, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws” to include additional information related to the EEOC’s position on various issues […]
The post EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Guidance with Added
Employers, Don’t Let Your Guard Down: COVID-19–Related Employment Lawsuits Are in Full Swing
We previously reported on COVID-19–related employment lawsuits that we tracked from late March 2020 through early May 2020. Since then, the number of lawsuits has steadily risen as employers have resumed operations after shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders were lifted and students returned to school in virtual or hybrid environments. To
Maritime and Offshore Industry Advices for COVID-19 Mitigation
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, detailed arrangements, procedures, and protocols have been designed and implemented to help assure the health and well-being of seafarers and passengers, while maintaining day-to-day operations of marine and offshore assets.
In a recent Maritime Executive article, authors Martin Petricic and Gareth Burton of ABS worked
Workplace Safety, Hazard Prevention, and Premium Pay During COVID-19 Pandemic
Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace safety and hazard prevention are more important than ever for manufacturers and other employers of essential employees.
DOL Provides Enforcement Reprieve for Certain Seasonal Establishments Coping with COVID-19
On September 15, 2020, the United States Department of Labor assured existing, seasonal-based establishments they could engage in alternative activities to cope with the financial fallout from COVID-19, without losing their minimum wage and overtime exemption. The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) stating
Right to Refuse to Bargain Over Union’s COVID-19 Proposal in Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Construction employers should remain mindful of the terms of their collective bargaining agreements and their obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Division of Advice reminded employers in five COVID-19 Advice emails as construction continues and resumes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Judge Declares Portions of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Mitigation Orders Unconstitutional
Finding the good intentions behind COVID-19-related safety orders laudable but insufficient to overcome liberty interests in the rights to free assembly, due process, and equal protection, a federal judge in Pittsburgh has declared unconstitutional portions of COVID-19 orders enacted by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
Amended Workers’ Compensation Benefits for COVID-19 Positive Employees
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 (“SB 1159”) on September 17, 2020, which could expand the definition of injury under the workers’ compensation system to include illness or death resulting from COVID-19. In May, the governor had issued an executive order which created a presumption that any COVID-19-related illness of
The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine – Planning for the Employer Response
Many employers are hopeful that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be the silver bullet that will enable employers to return to some semblance of a pre-COVID workplace. Assuming a vaccine is developed, can an employer mandate that employees be vaccinated before coming back to work? What happens when an
Is a COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine in Your Company’s Future? Considerations at the Start of Flu Season
Each year we review the validity of mandatory flu vaccinations. It is usually in the context of health care organizations, as few other employers have had the same need. In the last few years, the analysis has remained the same: (1) what is the justification (often, employee and patient safety);
Remote Work Expenses and Employer Reimbursement Requirements
With the pandemic continuing, many offices remain closed and many employees are performing their job duties remotely from home. This had led many employers reasonably to ask, “what types of expenses are we required to pay for?” Unfortunately, the law is very unclear