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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Just in time for fall school schedules, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently added three new FAQs on whether employees are entitled to take paid leave under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) as schools reopen for in-person or virtual instruction. These new FFCRA FAQs (#98-#100) clarify that…
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The federal Department of Homeland Security has again extended its temporary relaxation of the standards for physically inspecting a new worker's employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9. This is the fourth 30-day extension of the relaxed standard, with the new expiration now September 19, 2020. As we originally reported, Homeland Security relaxed the requirement for…
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To prevent potential food shortages related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Department of Homeland Security has extended its authorization for foreign temporary and seasonal agricultural workers validly in the United States in H-2A status to switch employers as soon as the new employer submits its own H-2A petition. The workers therefore don’t have…
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On August 18, 2020, Sonoma County was added to the list of California localities to enact supplemental emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) related to COVID-19. The urgency ordinance took effect immediately and is set to expire on December 31, 2020 (unless extended), expanding EPSL to employees working in the unincorporated…
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On August 28, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee released updated interpretative guidance accompanying the current COVID-19 safety requirements for agriculture on which we recently reported. Washington’s employers in the agriculture industry have endured a steady stream of additional requirements and changes around COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety. The good news is the new…
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Recently, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) removed informal guidance from its website explaining when to report work-related COVID-19 (coronavirus) exposures that cause inpatient hospitalizations. As a result, you as the employer should rely on existing regulations for reporting work-related illnesses. As we previously reported, OSHA had published…
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On August 19, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee delivered yet another proclamation (Proclamation 20-57.1, Concerning the Health of Agricultural Workers), which imposes even more agricultural COVID-19 requirements for worksites, particularly around isolating and testing workers. Many items are the same as those previously required, but significant new mandates are noted…
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On August 13, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 20-67, providing paid leave for food production worker absences related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). This new proclamation took effect on August 18, 2020, and significantly impacts employers operating in the agriculture sector. The proclamation doesn’t protect workers covered by the Families First Coronavirus…
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Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have issued expanded face covering guidance that as of August 13, 2020, requires masks, face coverings, or face shields at all times in all public and private office spaces unless employees are at individual work spaces or in meeting rooms where…
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