As Puerto Rico starts to reopen, the government is placing much of the burden to stop the spread of COVID-19 on employers. On May 1, 2020, Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor issued Opinion Letter 2020-03 to implement Executive Order 2020-38.
A new Executive Order issued in Puerto Rico allows certain commercial businesses and/or commercial activities or services that had remained closed and/or suspended since March 15, 2020, to resume operations.
On April 29, 2020, the eve of the natural expiration of his “Safer at Home Order,” Governor Rick DeSantis announced his “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.” plan to reopen Florida, which he explained would include three phases.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Joint Committee on Taxation have issued new guidance to help clarify employer requirements for claiming the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA), the privacy watchdog in the Netherlands, recently issued a hefty fine of EUR 725,000 to a company for using fingerprint scanners.
On April 27, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-18 (Order) regarding the reopening of Texas businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
As jurisdictions across the country are gradually easing up on stringent business closures and similar restrictions, employers may be confronted with a new dilemma: employees who are hesitant to return to work.
In Canada, the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic is determined by each individual province or territory. A number of provincial governments have announced how they plan to gradually ease restrictions.
Over the weekend, the Department of Labor published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing COVID-19 issues under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN).
