Employers are facing multiple challenges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increased risk of whistleblower/retaliation claims from employees who allege they were disciplined or discharged for complaining about health of safety concerns.
On April 14, 2020, Governor Murphy signed legislation amending the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the Temporary Disability Benefits Law to expand an employee’s permissible reasons to take leave and to receive benefits due to COVID-19.
On April 15, 2020, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of the Department of Labor and Human Resources issued guidance discussing the basic elements employers are required to include in their plans to limit employee exposure to COVID-19.
When the Democrats took control of the General Assembly in addition to the governorship in the November 2019 election, many predicted an expansion of workers’ rights. That prediction was realized with the 2020 Virginia General Assembly session.
On April 15, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam extended Executive Order 53, which imposes restrictions on nonessential retail businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, for an additional two weeks.
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.
The CARES Act included a variety of new provisions to help employers and workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those provisions were two aimed at student-loan repayment.
The Government of Canada previously announced that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) would be available to support workers and businesses. On April 15, 2020, the prime minister announced that the eligibility rules will be expanded.
On April 13, 2020, Washington Governor Inslee issued a proclamation prohibiting employers from engaging in certain employment practices with respect to employees considered high-risk under the proclamation.
