Late last week, the U.S. Department of Labor updated its guidance on emergency leave benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to address leave eligibility questions related to childcare issues presented as schools prepare to welcome students back (in some fashion). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions As the start of the school year fast approaches, employers are being inundated […]
With all the changes to the employment law landscape in light of the coronavirus pandemic, it would be easy to lose sight of the minimum wage increase effective September 1, 2020. Connecticut employers must begin paying $12 per hour to their employees on September 1, 2020. For hotel and restaurant employees who normally receive sufficient […]
Mask refusers in Connecticut now must supply medical documentation in order to be in a public space or in the workplace without a mask or cloth face covering. Executive Order 7NNN modifies the state’s earlier mask requirement, which provided that those with medical excuses need not wear a mask and could not be asked to […]
A federal judge in New York struck down portions of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Rule on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), leaving substantive changes to the legal landscape. The DOL could appeal the decision and if so, it is possible that implementation will be stayed. However, since this has not yet occurred, […]
After updating its travel restrictions by Executive Order (more information here), the State of Connecticut added some key clarifying details to its FAQ. The travel restrictions require individuals traveling from designated “Affected States” to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Connecticut, subject to limited exceptions. The FAQ now explains what is meant by “self-quarantine,” so […]
Nearly a month after Connecticut instituted a travel advisory requiring certain travelers to self-quarantine upon entry to the state, Governor Lamont issued a new executive order that gives some teeth to the measure. Executive Order 7III repeals the travel advisory contained in Executive Order 7BBB and replaces it with a mandatory self-quarantine enforceable through fines. […]
The U.S. Department of Labor issued new model notices and forms to assist employers in complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act. These model documents are available here. The model documents are optional for use by employers, but aid employers in obtaining and delivering all the necessary information required under the law, without making prohibited […]
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. […]
