On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new enforcement guidance regarding an employer’s obligation to record cases of COVID-19 on the OSHA injury and illness logs.
Articles Discussing Workplace Issues Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Spurred by COVID-19 Emergency, IRS Issues Cafeteria Plan Relief
Relief from the strict employee benefit cafeteria plan mid-year election changes rules has finally arrived. In Notice 2020-29, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance providing cafeteria plan participants with additional flexibility to make mid-year election changes as needed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OSHA Issues Revised Enforcement Guidance for Inspections Related to COVID-19
On May 19, OSHA released updated enforcement guidance for inspections related to COVID-19 complaints, referrals and severe illness reports.
In response to the reopening of many parts of the country, OSHA plans to operate within the following framework:
In areas where community spread of COVID-19 has significantly decreased, OSHA
Don’t Forget to Evaluate the Selections in Reductions in Force During COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the workplace in ways we could not have imagined just a few months ago. Indeed, the economic impact caused by the COVID-19-related shutdowns has prompted many employers to reevaluate how to conduct business and the number of employees they need. Consequently, many employers have been
The SBA Issues PPP Loan Forgiveness Application with Additional Guidance
On May 15, 2020, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued its loan forgiveness application for businesses who received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In addition to providing instructions for calculating forgiveness amounts, the application provides some guidance on […]
Workplace Issues of Reopenings, Returning to Work
As businesses begin to reopen after shutdowns to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers should anticipate heightened scrutiny by USCIS, ICE, and the Departments of Labor and Justice regarding wage and hour and immigration requirements.
OSHA Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facilities
On May 14, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a one-page guidance sheet titled “COVID-19 Guidance for Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facility Workers.” The guidance lists several tips that employers in the nursing home and long-term care facility industry may take to reduce the risk of
Triaging Employee Refusals to Work Due to COVID-19: A Legal Update for Healthcare Employers
Employees—particularly healthcare employees—are increasingly refusing to work because of safety concerns and the need for accommodations related to COVID-19. In certain circumstances, these refusals may trigger protections afforded by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), among
COVID-19-Related Jones Act Suit Filed
In our previous article “COVID-19 and the Shipowner’s Legal Obligations,” published in The Maritime Executive, and through our participation in a Zoom webinar on potential vessel operator liabilities hosted in conjunction with Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association, we discussed the standard of reasonable care owed under the Jones Act
COVID-19: 10 Practical Issues for UK Employers When Returning Employees to Work
The UK government has released its roadmap, “Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy,” as it looks to ease the lockdown over the coming months.
House Passes New $3 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package with Significant Labor and Employment Provisions, but Future Unclear
On May 15, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.
Addressing the COVID19 Risks of Your Third-Party Service Providers and Vendors
States are reopening – find out which ones here. As they do, organizations will begin and/or continue adhering to a complex set of distancing, screening, capacity, sanitization, mask, posting, reporting, and other guidelines designed to maintain COVID19 curve flattening efforts. For organizations with operations in multiple states, the patchwork of
COVID-19 Back-to-Work Toolkit: Helping Businesses Protect Lives and Livelihoods
Companies and organizations worldwide are facing a difficult question: As the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic shifts gears from emergency to maintenance, how can we reopen and run our businesses — from Day One and beyond — in a manner that preserves jobs and generates revenue without risking the health
Newly Unveiled HEROES Act Includes Grant Program for Employers to Provide Premium Pay to Essential Workers
In addition to numerous provisions expanding paid leave and unemployment benefits, the newly introduced Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act would create a program enabling employers to provide premium pay to essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
SBA Adopts “Safe Harbor” Provision for PPP Loan Recipients Under $2 Million
In response to public criticism regarding the disbursement of loans to larger companies, on April 23, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued guidance stressing that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applicants needed to certify in good faith that current economic […]