In case you are in the group of a lucky few that are still hiring (or if you’re in Ohio or Pennsylvania and are still allowed to keep your doors open) during this crazy time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has some great news for you! No, the shelter-in-place orders are not lifted. Their news has to do with the one thing we all love to hate ...
Finally! We have some answers. After what seems like an eternity (but was actually only 11 days), the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued more guidance for employers on how to implement the new Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family & Medical Expansion leave.
The DOL’s guidance again comes in a Q&A format. The DOL built upon the prior 14 ...
With new laws come new posters! On March 25, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) published two new posters for federal and non-federal employers regarding paid sick leave due to COVID-19 and paid family medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Here are some common questions you may be asking yourself:
Who is required ...
On March 25, 2020, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued notices that employers must post to comply with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). The DOL has issued one notice for covered private sector employers, which can be found on its website here. A separate poster for federal government employers
COVID-19 has drastically impacted people’s lives and livelihoods. It has also had drastic impacts on many legal sectors, but its impact on intellectual property has been much less severe with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and Copyright Office moving forward via remote operations.
In the midst of all the other COVID-19 news, here’s a quick update on several points of interest for Ohio employers regarding their workers’ compensation obligations:
- Deferral of premium payments. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced that insurance premium installment payments due for March, April and May for the ...
Julie R. Pugh & Lee P. Geiger
Well, the DOL graced us with another short night of sleep by publishing updated guidance giving both employers and employees additional information on the March 18, 2020 Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) late last night.
The FFCRA, among other provisions, requires employers with less than 500 ...
By Tyson Gorman
The Department of Labor has issued the first set of what will likely be many guidance documents on the recently-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). Three documents have been released by the DOL. They are available at the following links:
The EEOC recently announced that on the afternoon of March 27, 2020, it will be posting on its website a prerecorded webinar regarding the impact of COVID-19 on various federal non-discrimination laws. Specifically, the webinar will address questions submitted in advance to the EEOC on how employers should respond to ...
By Meredith Eason, Tyson Gorman, Mitzi Wyrick and Christopher Hanewald
The following Frequently Asked Questions seek to provide guidance to our clients on some of the questions we have received regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact their employees and businesses. These responses attempt to provide general policy guidance to ...
By Mitzi Wyrick
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is hosting a national online dialogue to provide employers and employees with an opportunity to offer their perspectives as the DOL develops compliance assistance materials and outreach strategies related to the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA ...
Julie R. Pugh & Lee P. Geiger
As this past week (or month, which is really what it has felt like) has shown us, it’s that the one thing constant in our reaction to this pandemic is CHANGE. Here’s the latest from Graydon. Keep in mind to “Stay Tuned!”
Each employer should be readying to support employees who will be affected by this virus. The ...
By Victoria Boland Fuller and Marianna Michael
On March 18, 2020, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kentucky issued an Order in response to Governor Beshear’s declaration of a State of Emergency earlier this month. This most recent Order follows the Order issued on March 13, 2020, which cancelled in-person appearances from March 16, 2020 ...
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced yesterday that Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton implemented a statewide “stay at home” order so to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible while enabling essential services to continue. The Order, which can be read in full here, creates the following rules:
The Order ...
On March 19, 2020, Governor Lee signed an Executive Order making it easier for workers affected by COVID-19 to get unemployment benefits in Tennessee. The Executive Order follows the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this month. Specifically, the Order does the following:
1) temporarily suspends the ...
By R. Joseph Stennis, Jr. and Marianna Michael
It is now common knowledge that the World Health Organization (“WHO”) has classified COVID-19 as an international pandemic. This week, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued guidance to employers on implementation strategies to utilize in navigating the impact ...
By Mike Fine
Following the passage of H.R. 6201 by the Senate on March 18, 2020, known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, President Trump signed the Act into law shortly thereafter. The Act is the first relief measure passed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States; however, it is expected that more aid will be forthcoming.
By Glen Krebs
On Jan. 31, 2020, USCIS published the Form I-9 Federal Register notice announcing a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, that the Office of Management and Budget approved on Oct. 21, 2019. This new version contains minor changes to the form and its instructions. Employers should begin using ...
Lee Geiger & Samantha Rittgers
Finally … we have some direction from Congress and the President about the rumored paid leave law to assist employees affected by COVID-19. The new law is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. In addition to the many parts that address funding and the economic impact of COVID-19, it has two substantial ...
On March 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor provided new guidance for states in administering unemployment insurance benefits in an effort to ease financial burdens for those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The guidance outlines significant flexibilities for states, including allowing states to pay ...
As employers large and small increasingly implement work-from-home as a workforce response to the current health crisis, it’s a good time to brush up on the legal and practical issues remote working (“telecommuting”) presents.
Understanding that employers are responding in real time to this unfolding and unprecedented health crisis ...
The Coronavirus has done a great job of distracting us all from the truly great things going on in the federal government for employers. Don’t believe me? Here’s an example: (be warned, what I’m about to say next contains a lot of numbers)
Recently, the EEOC released statistics regarding the filing of EEOC charges across the nation for the past ...
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance for employers to address questions about wage and hour issues that employers may face in dealing with the coronavirus. It is posted here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/pandemic
In addition, the DOL posted information about leave under the Family and ...
Is Coronavirus a hoax or a sure sign that the apocalypse is near? Who knows!!! Certainly not this lawyer. I went to law school for a reason … there was no chance I’d ever make it as a doctor. I pass out at the sight (or even thought) of blood. Seriously. Just ask my wife. I’m sure she would be happy to tell you the story. Be prepared for a good laugh.
The ...
Leap Year: How Did You Spend Your Extra Day? Did You Read the NLRB’s New Joint Employer Rule?
In our busy lives, many people say: “I wish I had more time!” Well, ta-da! Your wish came true! Leap year provided us with one extra day this year! What did you do with your extra day? Did you read up on the NLRB’s new final rule governing joint-employer ...
By Glen Krebs and Roger Morris
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services recently implemented a new rule that fundamentally changes how inadmissibility on the grounds of “public charge” will be determined. The rule establishes a new, and more burdensome, test to determine whether an immigrant applying to enter the U.S., filing for a visa ...