Articles Discussing General Topics In Pennsylvania Labor & Employment Law.

On July 1, 2020, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order expanding face covering–wearing requirements in Pennsylvania. Under the order, face coverings must now be worn almost any time an individual leaves home, including in most outdoor settings.

On June 26, 2020, Philadelphia became the first city in the United States to enact legislation specifically protecting workers who make complaints about workplace safety due to COVID-19. 

On July 16, 2020, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the COVID-19 PA Hazard Pay Grant Program—a $50 million grant aimed to help employers provide hazard pay to “front-line” employees working in sectors that are vital to the state during the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

On June 16, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court opened a new avenue for employees to file retaliation claims.  In a majority decision,1 the court held that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) is not the only pathway for a former employee to pursue a claim for wrongful termination for reporting

Effective May 1, 2020, Philadelphia became the tenth jurisdiction to enact employment legislation to protect domestic workers.1 The Philadelphia Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (DWBR) requires companies and individuals who employ domestic workers to provide them with written employment contracts, meal and rest breaks, and paid and unpaid leave. It

On May 8, 2020, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf moved 24 counties from the “red” to “yellow” phase under his Process to Reopen Pennsylvania.

Update: Effective May 15, 2020, the following 13 counties will be moved from the red to the yellow phase: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland. Click here for more information.

On May 1, 2020, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that, effective May 8, 2020, 24 Pennsylvania counties will be moved from the “red” to “yellow” phase under the governor’s Process to Reopen Pennsylvania. The counties are: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, and Warren.

On April 22, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a decision affecting the classification of independent contractors for purposes of the state Unemployment Compensation Law (UCL).

Late on April 20, 2020, the City of Philadelphia issued Temporary Emergency Regulations to the Philadelphia Notification of Intention to Close or Relocate Operations ordinance (Philadelphia WARN Act), continuing the trend of changes to state and local WARN obligations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.1

Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has issued an order requiring protections for critical workers who are employed at businesses that are authorized to maintain in-person operations during the COVID-19 emergency. The order took effect immediately on April 15, 2020, but does not become “enforceable” until 8 p.m. on April 19, 2020.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, M.D. issued an Order on April 15 aimed at preventing further spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. The Order was immediately effective, but it will not be enforced until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 19, 2020. Under the Order, life-sustaining businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations are required to implement numerous health and safety measures that require: reconfiguration of work and public spaces; deployment of protective equipment such as masks and shields; notices to customers and employees; and changes to scheduling and break procedures. These requirements affect all life-sustaining businesses except healthcare providers.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced a new Order related to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Signed by Dr. Rachel Levine under her authority as Secretary of the Department of Health, the April 15, 2020, Order is designed to provide additional protections for employees of essential businesses who are working during the pandemic — along with the public with whom they come into contact.

The Pennsylvania legislature has amended the state law on unemployment compensation to require employers in the Commonwealth to provide employees at the time of separation with notice of the availability of unemployment compensation — regardless of whether the employer is liable for payment of contributions to the state’s unemployment compensation fund.

In its latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania has ordered mandatory cleaning protocols for large buildings throughout the Commonwealth. On Sunday, April 5, 2020, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine issued an Order to take effect immediately at 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2020. The Order was issued days after Governor Wolf recommended Pennsylvanians wear face masks or coverings when in public.