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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: DOSH implements COVID-19 workplace enforcement

Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has issued a directive to its safety compliance officers outlining the standards for evaluating workplace safety measures to protect workers from COVID-19 (coronavirus). DOSH compliance officers who inspect the workplace will generally expect you to have the following basic measures in place: Educate workers (and customers, if…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19

Stay in touch with your tax and financial advisers

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government and many state governments are taking steps to provide companies with much-needed financial assistance through tax relief and loans. For example, as we previously reported, the IRS may provide tax credits to covered employers (those with 500 or fewer employees) granting their workers qualifying leave under…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

CDC guidance on face coverings raises questions for employers

On April 3, 2020, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued guidance advising all individuals to wear face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain, to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). While the guidance is directed at individuals, it would also apply while employees are working. We’ve…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles requires paid sick leave and face coverings

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti has signed a paid sick leave ordinance affecting businesses with more than 500 employees and has issued a directive for certain retail businesses to provide cloth face coverings to their workers. Ordinance 186590 requires employers with over 500 employees nationally to provide 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave in…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaIdaho

Extended school closures mean more leave requests

As school closures due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) are being extended, employers will likely see more leave requests from workers. Officials in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington have closed in-person instruction through the end of the school year. In Idaho, schools are closed through the end of the school year but local school districts have the…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19Harassment & DiscriminationLeave Laws

Q&A: Be careful about treating “high risk” employees differently

Question: Can we exclude employees from the workplace if they’re at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as older workers or workers with underlying medical conditions? Answer: In general, no. If your reason for keeping employees away from work is based solely on their membership in a high-risk group based on their age…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Employee BenefitsLeave Laws

WASHINGTON: ESD proposes new rules for PFML

The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) is asking for feedback by May 6, 2020, on proposed rules affecting the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. These proposals have nothing to do with the current pandemic or federal emergency leave benefits and are mostly minor technical changes. However, they do include a long-awaited requirement…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaWage and Hour

CALIFORNIA: Call-in scheduling triggers reporting time pay

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that California’s reporting time pay requirements extend to employees scheduled for “call-in” shifts even if they aren’t required to physically report to work. Workers at a retail store were required to call their manager 30 to 60 minutes before a scheduled shift to see if the…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

COVID-19 safety podcast on social distancing in manufacturing available

The Vigilant safety team has recorded a 23-minute safety podcast with information on requirements and best practices for social distancing in a manufacturing environment. Give it a listen. Our safety professionals have been fielding many questions from Vigilant members on how to keep employees safe from potential exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus) while still maintaining production. Still…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Order extended to May 4; business list updated

Last night Governor Jay Inslee extended his Stay Home – Stay Healthy order through May 4, 2020. The order, which was issued to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), was originally in effect through April 6, 2020. The order prevents individuals from leaving home unless they engage in essential activities or essential business services. Unless…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19

Check WARN Act requirements even for short-term layoffs

In light of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, many companies are making difficult decisions about layoffs in the face of an uncertain future. Short-term layoffs don’t trigger the 60-day notice requirement under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), but if a layoff extends past six months, it could spell trouble. By “layoff,”…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Leave Laws

DOL issues rules on paid leave under FFCRA

On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced new regulations interpreting the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), on which we previously reported. The rules provide further guidance on eligibility for the 2 weeks of emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) for six specified reasons and the 12…

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