As featured in #WorkforceWednesday: One way employers can support employee mental health in today’s environment is ensuring that their benefits offerings include telemental health services. Attorneys Cassandra Labbees and Amy Lerman tell us more about telemental health and evaluating your benefits plans.
New Jersey Allows Re-Opening of Outdoor Tennis and Other Recreational Businesses, with Restrictions, and Loosens Some Prior Restrictions on Golf
On May 18, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 147, which allows for the resumption of certain outdoor recreational businesses (subject to conditions and restrictions), and loosens some of the restrictions that had been placed on golf courses. Some of the provisions of Executive Order 147 took effect on May 19,
OSHA Reinstates Enforcement Guidance for Recording COVID-19 Cases and General Investigation Response Plan Procedures
On May 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor issued two COVID-19 related Enforcement Memos to provide updated guidance to OSHA investigators: (1) Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (“Revised Recordkeeping Guidance”), which reinstates employers’ recordkeeping obligations for COVID-19 cases (29 CFR Part 1904) and (2) Updated Interim
Required Safety Guidelines for Reopening Michigan Companies
As Michigan businesses begin the process of reopening, they must comply with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-91 (“Order”) regarding “Safeguards to protect Michigan’s workers from COVID-19.” The Order includes detailed safety standards, with which employers in construction, manufacturing, retail, research labs, offices and restaurants, must comply, for the stated goal of protecting workers and
New Jersey Allows Re-Opening of Non-Essential Retail and Construction Business, and In-Vehicle Gatherings, with Restrictions
On May 13, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 142 , which allows for the resuming of non-essential construction projects (subject to certain conditions and restrictions), the reopening of retail businesses (curbside pickup only) and permitting public gatherings of more than 10 people so long as attendees stay in closed (or socially
DOL Gives Extra Time to Plan Participants and Beneficiaries: Benefits Guidance in the Time of COVID-19
Plan participants and their beneficiaries may now have extra time to exercise some of their rights under the employee benefit plans in which they participate. On April 28, 2020, the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of the Treasury issued a joint notice extending certain timeframes applicable to employee benefit plans.
COVID-19’s Effect on the Dynamic Workplace Safety-Employee Privacy Relationship
We previously have described certain country-specific initiatives to re-open the economy, and we have provided insights on issues that employers should consider when employees are allowed to return to the workplace. Over the past several weeks, some local governments around the globe have begun slowly to initiate progressive measures to revise and even rescind COVID-19
No Mask, No Service? ADA Considerations for Business Owners Requiring Face Masks in Retail Stores
As numerous jurisdictions now mandate citizens wear face masks in public, many retailers have begun requiring customers to cover their faces as a safety measure to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19 among employees and fellow customers. Retailers intending to enforce a policy whereby it will turn away customers who refuse to wear face masks
New COBRA Notices & Extended Deadlines May Create Traps for the Unwary: Benefits Guidance in the Time of COVID-19
The economic downturn caused by COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented number of layoffs, furloughs, and reduced hours. Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), when employment is terminated or hours are reduced and there is a loss of coverage, employers (generally those with 20 or more employees) must provide notices to
EEOC Delays EEO-1 Reporting for 2019 Due to COVID-19
On May 7, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) announced that it was delaying the collection of 2019 EEO-1 demographic data until 2021 because of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Accordingly, the EEOC’s online filing portal for 2019 EEO-1 filings will remain closed for now.
Recognizing the substantial impact the public health emergency is