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Showing posts for: COVID-19

Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON Q&A: Don’t refund garnished wages already collected

Question: Before Governor Inslee’s order temporarily halting garnishments for consumer debt took effect on April 14, 2020, we withheld wages and set the money aside to send to the creditor once the 60-day garnishment period ended. Should we refund that money to our employee? Or should we hold on to it and send it to…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

OSHA will exercise discretion in enforcement of COVID-19 safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has directed its compliance officers to consider the good faith efforts of employers who are unable to fully comply with federal safety requirements to conduct audits, reviews, training, or assessments due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The agency provides several examples. In situations where you as an employer are unable…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

OSHA issues COVID-19 safety alerts for specific industries

OSHA has been issuing safety alerts tailored to specific industries, to help employers protect workers from exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The tips in the alerts aren’t particularly earth-shaking but nonetheless may be useful to review to ensure you’ve at least covered the basics in your safety efforts. So far, the alerts cover workers in manufacturing,…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: San Francisco requires face coverings for some workers

The City of San Francisco has issued a public health order requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public, including employees performing work at essential businesses (as defined by the Shelter in Place Order issued on March 16, 2020). Essential businesses must require their employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear face coverings when: (1)…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: Governor suspends garnishments for consumer debts

Washington employers must temporarily stop withholding worker wages under writs of garnishment, according to a proclamation issued by Governor Jay Inslee to ease financial hardships for workers during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This includes writs you currently hold and any new writs you receive starting April 14 and continuing through May 14, 2020. The proclamation temporarily suspends…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19Leave LawsWashington

WASHINGTON: Seattle prohibits requiring doctors’ notes for PSST

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 requirements, such as by…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

OSHA eases COVID-19 recording standards for OSHA 300 log

If workers come down with COVID-19 (coronavirus), most employers don’t have to assess whether their illness was work-related for purposes of OSHA recordkeeping requirements, according to enforcement guidance released by OSHA on April 10, 2020. Employers must record work-related illnesses on the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). OSHA’s guidance acknowledges that…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: COVID-19 workplace safety spot checks are coming

Oregon OSHA recently announced it will begin spot-checking businesses for compliance with social distancing and other safety measures related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). This is in addition to the more thorough on-site inspections initiated by the agency. The on-site inspections will be driven by complaints from employees, who, as we previously reported, are being encouraged by…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19

Federal student loan garnishments temporarily suspended

The Department of Education (ED) has announced that it will suspend garnishments on federally held student loans dating back to March 13 and continuing through September 30, 2020. This change implements provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which provide relief for federal student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic….

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19Leave Laws

Regular FMLA notices not required for EFMLA, but useful anyway

Covered employers providing emergency/expanded family and medical leave (EFMLA) under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) aren’t required to provide the Notice of Eligibility and Rights & Responsibilities or the Designation Notice that are required under the traditional Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but we suggest FMLA-covered employers do so anyway, with modifications….

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: San Jose expands paid sick leave

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has signed a paid sick leave ordinance, impacting employers who aren’t required to comply with the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The ordinance took effect on April 7, 2020. As we previously reported, the FFCRA requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide up to 80 hours…

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Apr 16 2020
COVID-19Idaho

IDAHO: Stay home order extended to April 30; business list expanded

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare extended its Order to Self-Isolate through April 30, 2020. The order, which as we previously reported was originally in effect through April 15, 2020, prevents individuals from leaving homes unless they engage in essential activities or essential business services. In addition to extending the time frame for the stay-at-home…

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