#WorkforceWednesday: CA Employer Playbook, Federal COVID-19 Updates, DOL’s FFCRA Rule Vacated in Part
Employment Law This Week® - Episode 173 August 5, 2020
It’s #WorkforceWednesday. In this week’s news, California provides a detailed COVID-19 employer playbook, and a federal judge vacated parts of the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) rule.
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CA Releases Employer Playbook
California released the "COVID-19 Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening." The 32-page document follows the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s guidelines fairly closely. However, unlike the recently issued Virginia business reopening safety requirements, the California plan doesn’t lay out any specific enforcement penalties.
Federal COVID-19 Updates
The DOL and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) both released updated guidance addressing return-to-work issues. The DOL guidance can be found here and here. Here’s the CDC’s guidance.
NY Federal Judge Vacates Parts of DOL COVID-19 Sick Leave Rule
On Monday, a federal judge sided with New York, which challenged restrictions that the DOL placed on sick leave provided by the FFCRA. Employers should watch the case as it makes its way through the Courts.
Other Highlights
Digital Nomads on the Rise
The number of countries offering digital nomad visas is rising as the economic impact and trend toward remote work continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about how digital nomads affect employers.
NYC Differs on Accommodating Older Workers
The New York City Commission on Human Rights has issued general guidance and supplemental COVID-19 guidance on age discrimination. The city’s guidance and federal guidance differ on whether employers can provide preferential treatment to older workers. Read more about the big takeaways.
Summer Reading
- “Understanding John Roberts: A Conservative Institutionalist Concerned with Durability of the Law and Respect for the Court,” a Jurist Commentary article by attorney Stuart Gerson.
- “Best Practices for ERISA Fiduciary Responsibilities and Cybersecurity for Retirement Plans,” a Thomson Reuters Practical Law Practice Note by attorneys Michelle Capezza and Christopher Lech.
Stay Up to Date
Our Coronavirus Resource Center is updated daily and has the return-to-work resources you need.
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