Ready Camera One: Remote Litigation in the Era of Social Distancing
4/7/20
By: Jennifer Adair, Jennifer Markowski and Andy Treese Evaluating claims to move them towards resolution or trial is the lifeblood of a defense practice. This typically requires direct interaction with a plaintiff and key witnesses, either at deposition (to hear their testimony, to form impressions of how they will be received by a jury), at mediation…
4/1/20
By: Robert Young Over the weekend, the Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued two additional rounds of guidance to help employers navigate issues relating to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or the Act), as the effective date of the Act rapidly approaches on April 1, 2020. The new guidance adds to…
U.S. Department of Education Announces Temporary Halting of Wage Garnishments
3/30/20
By: Jeffrey A. Hord On March 25, 2020, the Department of Education (DOE) announced that it will temporarily halt seizing wages and/or withholding tax refunds from borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans held by the federal government. As part of the Trump Administration’s multifaceted response to the COVID-19 national emergency, the DOE has…
3/25/20
By: Robert Young In the time since the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or the Act) into law a few days ago, employers have asked many questions about how the new legislation will affect them once it goes into effect. To answer these questions, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage…
3/23/20
By: Jeffrey A. Hord On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor issued an announcement regarding the timing of reimbursement by the federal government to employers for paid emergency leave and expanded FMLA leave required under the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). This guidance (available here) represents an important step…
3/23/20
By: Andrew Kim In response to COVID-19, on March 16, 2020, the Georgia Department of Labor adopted emergency rules making it a requirement for employers affected by COVID-19 to file partial unemployment claims on behalf of their employees. Barring subsequent action from the Georgia Department of Labor, these emergency rules will remain in effect for…
U.S. Department of Labor Issues COVID-19 Guidance on FLSA and FMLA
3/20/20
By: Catherine Scott As the federal government continues to grapple with questions from employers regarding COVID-19, the federal agencies have begun to roll out new guidance. The latest comes from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which has issued guidance for employers seeking answers concerning their obligations pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)…
What Rhode Island Employers Should Know About COVID-19
3/19/20
By: Jennifer Markowski and Catherine Scott Governor Gina Raimondo has declared a state of emergency in the state of Rhode Island and implemented certain measures, such as the closing of public schools through April 3, that have a direct effect on Rhode Island employers. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) continues to…
COVID-19: What Medical Inquiries Can Employers Make?
3/16/20
By: Jennifer Markowski Last week, Brad Adler, addressed FAQ’s (and Answers) for Employers Dealing with the Coronavirus, COVID-19. Subsequent to that article, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Consequently, employers should follow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (“EEOC”) pandemic guidance “Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the ADA,”…
House Passes Coronavirus Bill with Major Implications for Employers
3/15/20
By: Jeffrey A. Hord and David A. Cole, Shortly past midnight on Saturday morning, the House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) on a bipartisan 363-40 vote, bringing the nation one step closer to implementing a sweeping financial aid package designed to address the Coronavirus outbreak. A copy of the entire bill, as…
FAQ’s (and Answers) For Employers Dealing With The Coronavirus (Updated March 11, 2020)
3/11/20
By: Brad Adler As I’m sure many of you have heard or read, a new virus (COVID-19 aka “Coronavirus”) first found in Wuhan, China in late 2019 has been spreading across the world and is now emerging in the United States on an increasing scale. As employment issues surrounding the Coronavirus continue to arise, below…