With COVID-19 positivity rates falling below 3.4%, on March 7, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order 2022-019 (EO), drastically changing previously issued COVID-19 measures and guidelines by...more
As COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decrease, on February 13, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued three news executive orders revising travelers’ declaration requirements, relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and...more
2/18/2022
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
International Travel ,
New Guidance ,
Puerto Rico ,
Traveling Employee ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Governor Issues New Executive Order Providing for New Vaccination Mandates -
New Order or Decree -
On November 15, 2021, Puerto Rico’s Governor issued Executive Order No. 2021-075 (EO 2021-075), which integrates prior...more
1/27/2022
/ Arbitration Agreements ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Reform ,
New Guidance ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Puerto Rico ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
In his most recent attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19, on January 13, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi once again issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) implementing additional COVID-19 restrictions and...more
On December 31, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2021-87 (EO) requiring first responders and certain private sector personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in order to be...more
1/13/2022
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Regulations ,
Popular ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Puerto Rico ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi recently issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) regarding COVID-19. It appears that the third EO was stuck in holiday traffic. This latest EO, like her sisters, amends November’s...more
In two days, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) establishing greater restrictions on mass activities, food and drink establishments, and air passengers arriving on the Island....more
12/22/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Executive Orders ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Puerto Rico ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On November 15, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2021-075 (EO 2021-075), which integrates prior COVID-19-related orders still in effect and, notably, includes vaccine/testing requirements...more
11/16/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Puerto Rico ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Given the recent increase in COVID-19 positivity rates in Puerto Rico, on Thursday, August 5, 2021, Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2020-062, adopting new vaccination measures for different sectors. ...more
8/11/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Puerto Rico ,
Tourism ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On July 22, 2021 the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) issued Administrative Order No. 2021-509 (AO) providing that, in order to physically attend school, post-school educational institutions, or universities,...more
On June 3, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order (EO) 2021-043 to further relax COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. The new EO will be in effect from June 7, 2021 until July 4, 2021. The...more
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and as new information has become available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments have continuously revised their isolation and quarantine...more
Multiple states and jurisdictions are reporting a deadly winter spike of COVID-19 infections. An excess of 220,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported in early December, a dramatic increase from the 44,783 reported in October....more
12/23/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Puerto Rico ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
In conclusion, employers have multiple CDC-approved approaches to choose from when determining their return-to-work protocols. Employers opting for the test-based strategy are protected under the ADA so long as it is carried...more
On November 16, 2020, the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (“PR DOL”) issued Circular Letter No. 2020-05, discussing considerations for private sector employers when requesting an exemption from paying the...more
On June 1, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced signed into law Act No. 56-2020, amending the Puerto Rico Workers' Accident Compensation Act (Act No. 45-1935) to extend workers’ compensation insurance coverage...more
As Puerto Rico starts to reopen, the government is placing much of the burden to stop the spread of COVID-19 on employers. On May 1, 2020, Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor Hon. Briseida Torres Reyes issued Opinion Letter...more
Puerto Rico’s Department of Labor and Human Resources has issued Circular Letter 2020-02 (CC 2020-02) providing that, effective immediately, any private employer that lays off or reduces employees’ regular working hours is...more
On April 15, 2020, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of the Department of Labor and Human Resources issued guidance discussing the basic elements employers are required to include in their plans to limit employee exposure to COVID-19...more
Balancing the recommendations of the Medical and Economic Task Forces convened to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor of Puerto Rico Hon. Wanda Vazquez-Garced on April 12, 2020 issued Executive Order 2020-033 (“EO” or the...more
On March 30, 2020, following the recommendations of the Medical Task Force convened to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Wanda Vazquez-Garced issued two additional executive orders to help contain the...more
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources issued guidance that specifically allows employers to take an employee’s body temperature provided they secure the...more
On March 18, 2020, the president signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Among other things, the new law provides for paid sick leave and expanded FMLA provisions. The FFCRA takes effect on April...more
On March 23, 2020, the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources issued Opinion No. 2020-02 (Opinion 2020-02) discussing provisions applicable to both exempt and non-exempt private-sector employees...more
In the wake of Governor Wanda Vázquez-Garced’s March 15, 2020 Executive Order (EO 2020-023) enacted to facilitate the private and public closings necessary to combat the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and control the...more