On November 15, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee tightened down COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions throughout the state by significantly limiting social gatherings, recreation, and certain indoor activities through December 14, 2020. These latest restrictions roll back some of the reopened activities previously allowed during the pandemic, but they don’t replace any of the…
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently changed its definition of “close contact” to determine potential exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). “Close contact” is now defined as a combined total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period within six feet of someone infected with the virus. Previously, close contact was defined as a…
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The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) continues to tinker with the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) rules, finalizing more changes on October 2, 2020. These latest rules mainly relate to legislative changes passed this year in SHB 2614 and minor tweaks to a handful of definitions. The revised rules are…
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California employees who test positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus) will have an easier time getting workers’ compensation benefits thanks to Senate Bill 1159, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 17, 2020. As we previously reported, Governor Newsom issued an executive order in May creating this same presumption, but that order expired in…
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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued four revised FFCRA rules, effective September 16, 2020, and updated its FAQs to reflect these revisions. These revised rules are in direct response to a federal court decision that invalidated the previous versions of these four DOL rules on August 3, 2020.…
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On August 3, 2020, a federal court in New York threw out a handful of key Department of Labor (DOL) rules for implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). As we’ve previously reported, the FFCRA provides emergency sick leave and family and medical leave to employees who are unable to work…
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to make significant changes in its recommendations regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) as new information becomes available. The list of possible COVID-19 symptoms has been updated to include congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. We previously reported on the agency’s expanded list…
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance to increase the recommended isolation time for COVID-19 (coronavirus) illness in situations when sick individuals seem to have recovered but haven’t been tested to determine whether they’re still contagious. For individuals who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, home…
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Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) issued an updated directive to its safety compliance officers, effective April 27, 2020, which incorporates guidance on when it’s okay to allow essential workers to return after a potential exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). This directive supersedes the April 7 version on which we previously…
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Beginning April 8, 2020, employers in Seattle aren’t allowed to require documentation from a health care provider to verify an employee’s use of Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST), even if the employee is absent more than three days. You must identify another way for the employee to meet your verification…
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