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Apr 30 2020
COVID-19Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: L&I weighs in on garnishment moratorium

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)’s Wage and Hour team recently confirmed in an informal email that employers aren’t obligated to return garnished wages to employees when the withholding took place before the governor’s garnishment moratorium on April 14, 2020. L&I can’t say conclusively what you should do with that money, but suggested it…

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Apr 30 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

Podcast available on restarting businesses after COVID-19

Vigilant’s safety team has released a 12-minute podcast on “Returning to Work after COVID-19.” Companies that have temporarily closed or reduced operations during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic are opening back up. Employers need to know how best to navigate these re-openings, keeping in mind current requirements for ensuring workers’ safety. Our podcast covers the basics…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

Homeland Security updates critical infrastructure guidance

On April 17, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security updated its guidance on Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19 (i.e., essential businesses). The department issued the first round of guidance on March 19, 2020, as an optional resource to help state and local governments identify workers essential to maintain public health and safety, as well as…

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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 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-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-19Leave Laws

DOL updates FFCRA paid leave FAQs

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has beefed up its frequently asked questions on paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The DOL added questions #80-88. As we previously reported, the FFCRA applies to employers with fewer than 500 employees. Several of the new FAQs address how to calculate the amount of emergency paid…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Immigration

Homeland Security extends some employment authorizations

The Department of Homeland Security issued a news release to address immigration-related challenges related to the pandemic. As a result, employers may have some leeway when updating expiring Form I-9 documentation of employees who used an I-94 as proof of authorization to work. The DHS indicates if an individual files for a timely extension, employment…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: Paid sick leave expanded for food sector workers

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued Executive Order N-51-20, providing food sector workers with up to 80 hours of “COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave” if they perform work “for or through” a business that employs 500 or more employees in the U.S. This amount is in addition to any already accrued California paid sick leave….

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: San Francisco amends paid sick leave ordinance

The City of San Francisco has passed a Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance, which provides up to 80 hours of additional paid sick leave to employees who aren’t otherwise covered by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The public health emergency leave ordinance took effect on April 17, 2020, when signed by Mayor…

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Apr 23 2020
COVID-19Oregon

OREGON: Unemployment “waiting week” may be paid retroactively

Although the Oregon Employment Department believes it isn’t feasible to update its computer systems to waive the normal one-week waiting period to obtain unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Oregon Governor Kate Brown says she’ll work with the department to make it happen. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided federal…

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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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