In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico enacted Act No. 37-2020, which created a special five-day paid leave for non-exempt employees in the private sector. Act No. 37 amended the Puerto Rico Minimum Salary,...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
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
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
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 13, 2020, Puerto Rico’s Department of Labor and Human Resources’ Secretary, Hon. Briseida Torres Reyes, issued Opinion 2020-21 discussing statutory rights and other applicable measures in light of the coronavirus...more
3/17/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Workplace Safety
On March 15, 2020, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Hon. Wanda Vázquez Garced, issued an Executive Order to facilitate the private and public closings necessary to combat the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and control the...more
3/16/2020
/ Best Practices ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Executive Orders ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Puerto Rico ,
Quarantine ,
Workplace Safety