Vigilant Blog
News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp
May
21
2020
Q&A: Address worker concerns about cloth face coverings
Question: We’ll be requiring employees to wear cloth face coverings at work, but we’re worried about pushback. What do we need to know? Answer: With the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people to wear cloth face coverings in public and at work, it seems that these fancy…
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May
21
2020
Remote inspection of Form I-9 extended through June 19, 2020
The federal Department of Homeland Security announced it has extended until June 19, 2020, its temporarily relaxed standard regarding physical inspection of a new worker’s employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9. As we previously reported, Homeland Security relaxed the requirement for employers that are operating remotely and therefore unable to…
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May
21
2020
Work with experts to comply with evolving CMV requirements
As employers with commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations face a web of federal and state actions related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), working with subject matter experts is key. At the federal level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), continues to stay…
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May
21
2020
Q&A: Decide how to handle holiday pay during FFCRA leave
Question: We have a full-time employee who’s currently on paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) because his young child’s school has been closed due to COVID-19. Our policy says that in order to receive holiday pay, you must work the day before and the day after the holiday.…
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May
21
2020
Q&A: Dropping below 50 employees impacts FMLA calculations
Question: Due to the recent economic downturn related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), we temporarily laid off a number of employees. Do we count them for purposes of determining if we’re a covered employer (with at least 50 employees) under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? If we drop below 50…
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May
21
2020
OREGON: State supreme court keeps governor’s orders intact for now
Late on May 18, 2020, the Oregon Supreme Court issued an order that upholds Governor Kate Brown’s executive orders related to COVID-19 (coronavirus) until the court hears a legal challenge to their validity. Earlier that day, a state circuit court judge in Baker County temporarily invalidated the governor’s statewide orders. Oregon was in its…
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May
21
2020
OREGON: Retailers must provide face coverings for workers
On May 15, 2020, Governor Kate Brown issued new guidance for reopening businesses throughout the state of Oregon. The mask and face covering guidance says that certain businesses, including retail stores, must require employees, contractors, and volunteers to wear a mask, face shield, or face covering to prevent the spread…
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May
21
2020
WASHINGTON: Garnishment moratorium extended
On May 15, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee announced that the Washington Legislature agreed to extend the temporary moratorium on garnishment for consumer debts that was imposed by the governor’s Proclamation 20-49. The original proclamation expired on May 14, 2020, but the revised version (Proclamation 20-49.1) extends the moratorium until 11:59 p.m. on…
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May
21
2020
WASHINGTON: Use Vigilant policy for COVID-19 manufacturer safety
Vigilant has developed a model policy to help comply with Washington’s Phase 2 requirements for manufacturing employers to continue or reopen operations, which we reported on in our last newsletter. Under Washington’s Phase 2 manufacturing requirements, each manufacturing facility is required to create a written exposure control plan for COVID-19 (coronavirus) that…
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May
21
2020
WASHINGTON: Governor issues Phase 2 construction requirements
On May 15, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee’s office issued guidance for construction activity in counties that have entered Phase 2 of Washington’s reopening. The memo permits all construction to resume in Phase 2 counties, as long as employers and workers can meet all the criteria listed in the Phase 2 Construction COVID-19…
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