The US Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in a trio of employment discrimination cases which held that non-discrimination protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (Title VII), which prohibits employment discrimination based on membership in a protected class, including sex, includes protections for individuals identifying as gay or transgender. The […]
While employers certainly have enough to think about as they continue to navigate myriad challenges during the current public health crisis, they can’t forget about continuing legal obligations unrelated to COVID-19. Add to that checklist (if it wasn’t there already), compliance with new sexual harassment prevention training requirements under Connecticut’s Times Up Act, which became […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued updated interim guidance regarding its enforcement of an employer’s recordkeeping requirements to address reporting of COVID-19 cases in the workplace during the current public health crisis. This new guidance rescinds prior guidance effective May 26, 2020 and will remain in place until further notice. […]
Businesses that have been shuttered since March may be eligible to reopen on May 20th, as Connecticut enters Phase One of its reopening plan. The May 20th date allows for hair salons/barbershops, museums/zoos (outdoor only), offices, restaurants (outdoor only), and retail/malls to reopen if specified criteria are met. Sector-specific criteria are available here. Non-essential businesses outside […]
Municipal employers and non-profits often opt to reimburse the Unemployment Compensation system for claims rather than contribute a portion of each employee’s pay to the system quarterly. These “reimbursing employers” are eligible to receive a benefit under the CARES Act – reimbursement of 50% of their Unemployment claims between March 13, 2020 and December 31, […]
As a result of the Governor’s latest Executive Order 7BB, employers must now provide masks or cloth face coverings to employees who must wear face masks at all times in the workplace. Executive Order 7BB, effective Monday, April 20th at 8 p.m., requires all individuals in any public place where it is not possible to maintain a […]
In the State’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Lamont issued his 23rd Executive Order late on Tuesday, April 7. Executive Order 7V mandates that essential businesses “shall take additional protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 between and among employees, customers, and others entering the workplace, such as delivery drivers, maintenance people, or […]
On April 1, the Department of Labor issued a Temporary Rule providing further clarification on implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), which went into effect on that date. The rule follows earlier guidance issued by the DOL. These regulations contain some surprises – even appearing to rewrite the legislation in some instances. This article summarizes some key […]
IRS guidance for employers claiming tax credits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) provides important information. This article details some of the highlights of the IRS guidance. The complete guidance is available here. To learn about the basic leave requirements under FFCRA, read our previous summaries here and here. To learn more about the tax credits available to non-government employers, read […]
On April 1, Berchem Moses PC presented a Virtual HR Bootcamp to cover Employment Law implications of COVID-19 including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Speakers for this session were Attorneys Paula N. Anthony, and Rebecca Goldberg. Attached is the PowerPoint presentation that was discussed in the meeting. As everyone works to keep up with the rapid developments […]
