Archive | COVID-19

The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division recently posted “Quick Benefits Tips” for information about how much leave workers may qualify to use, and the wages employers must pay. The law enables employers to provide paid leave reimbursed by tax credits, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the […]

  While temperature tests and other tests for Covid-19 continue to be permissible in ascertaining whether an employee may return to work, the  EEOC has amended its Technical Assistance Questions and Answers, addressing what COVID-19 testing employers are allowed to require. Currently the EEOC has opined that the ADA does not allow employers to require […]

  On April 28, 2020, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced the “Safer at Home” order to aid in reopening the state. The new “Safer at Home” order becomes effective April 30, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. and expires on May 15, 2020. Under the new order, individuals who were once ordered to stay at home except […]

The EEOC now gives employers the right to administer COVID-19 tests to employees before entering the workplace since such tests can indicate whether an individual may pose a direct threat to others. Consistent with the ADA standard, employers should ensure that the tests are accurate and reliable.  For example, employers may review guidance from the U.S. Food […]

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect construction workers from exposure to the coronavirus. Measures that can help protect employees working in construction include: Encouraging workers to stay home if they are sick; Training workers how to properly […]

USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities through: technical, training, and management assistance; financial assistance; and state and local assistance. USDA’s COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource […]

  The Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response provides grantees with information on implementing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in a coordinated effort with local health authorities before undertaking any activity to support state or local pandemic response. Grantees may use CDBG funds for a range of eligible activities […]

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is leading efforts to ensure that prevention, treatment, recovery support services, and safe and effective pain management remain available nationwide. The threat posed by COVID-19, along with the mitigation measure in place across the country to prevent its spread, makes accessing treatment and recovery especially […]

OSHA delivers guidance for emergency responders who must make a determination whether a COVID-19 is work related (and therefore recordable). Under OSHA’s record keeping requirements, COVID-19 is a recordable illness, and employers are responsible for recording cases of COVID-19, if: (1) the case is a confirmed case of COVID-19 (2) the case is work-related (3) the […]