As part of the ongoing plan to restart Puerto Rico’s economy, on May 21, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Wanda Vazquez-Garced issued Executive Order 2020-041.
On May 12, 2020, the IRS issued guidance temporarily suspending long-standing federal regulations that limit when an employee can make mid-year changes to employer-sponsored health coverage.
OSHA has issued an Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), providing new guidance on how to investigate COVID-19-related hazards as the transmission of COVID-19 slows and workplaces continue to reopen.
On May 21, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation (HB 972/SB 2) to decriminalize simple marijuana possession and prohibit employers from requiring applicants to disclose information related to past criminal charges for such possession.
On May 20, 2020, the Chicago City Council approved Substitute Ordinance 2020-2343, the anti-retaliation ordinance to protect employees from adverse employment action taken due to COVID-19.
After weeks or months of remote work or closed operations, businesses are understandably eager to resume normal operations and bring employees back to the workplace.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new enforcement guidance regarding an employer’s obligation to record cases of COVID-19 on the OSHA injury and illness logs.