Seyfarth Synopsis: On February 28, 2022, California’s Governor Newsom issued a press release lifting California’s mask requirements for unvaccinated individuals in indoor settings, downgrading the former requirement to a...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Starting today, December 15, 2021, Californians must again mask up in public indoor spaces, regardless of their vaccination status. California’s Department of Public Health imposed this state-wide four-week...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 13, 2021, the San Francisco Department of Public Health issued a revised COVID-19 public health order. Of interest to many employers, the City outlined when certain businesses—such as office...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 12, 2021, the City and County of San Francisco issued an order requiring certain businesses offering food services or fitness services indoors to check for proof of full vaccination. This...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, California grocery, drug store, and other front-line workers have continued to sell essential products, stock shelves, clean buildings, and otherwise keep our economy moving....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 4, 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) provided some much needed clarity in its updated COVID-19 Related Guidance. The Guidance answers many pressing questions...more
Seyfarth Synopsis. On December 18, 2020, San Francisco imposed a 10-day mandatory quarantine on most people traveling or returning to the city for more than 24 hours. The order does not apply to travel within the larger Bay...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective December 5, 2020, California businesses may be subject to a new Regional Stay At Home Order. The Order divides the State into five regions and will place new restrictions on businesses in regions...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Along with other locations across the country, California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico imposed sweeping restrictions and new guidance to contain the surge in COVID-19 infections. The latest round of...more
11/19/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
State and Local Government ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 1, 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved another temporary emergency ordinance, this time protecting employees, contractors, and job applicants from adverse employment action if...more
9/23/2020
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employees ,
Crisis Management ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Local Ordinance ,
Low-Wage Workers ,
Quarantine ,
San Francisco ,
Sick Employees ,
State and Local Government ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: As several counties struggled to get, and remain, off of the California County Data Monitoring List, Governor Newsom unveiled a new framework with revised criteria for loosening and tightening COVID-19...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective July 13, 2020, California issued statewide restrictions on a number of business operations due to the resurgence of COVID-19. It ordered all bars to close for indoor and outdoor service, as well...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 7, 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed additional emergency measures to establish cleaning and disease prevention standards at tourist hotels and large commercial office buildings. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 23, 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an emergency “Right to Reemployment” Ordinance in response to layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mayor had ten days to take action on...more
7/9/2020
/ City Councils ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Business ,
Emergency Rule ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Layoffs ,
Local Ordinance ,
Notice Requirements ,
Record Retention ,
Rehiring Issues ,
Right to Reemployment ,
San Francisco
Seyfarth Synopsis: Two weeks after issuing a statewide face covering mandate, and just days after ordering seven counties to shut down bars, Governor Newsom made the decision to re-close the indoor operations of several...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 23, 2020 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an emergency “reemployment” ordinance in response to layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ordinance still requires the Mayor’s assent,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As counties begin loosening local restrictions and summer approaches, and in an effort to preempt a rise in COVID-19 cases, the California Department of Public Health issued a directive mandating that...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose all passed emergency paid sick leave ordinances mandating employers to provide supplemental leave to employees unable to work as a result of the COVID-19 public health...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: After consistently issuing parallel shelter-in-place orders, six Bay Area counties and the City of Berkeley begin to diversify their approaches to easing restrictions and reopening local economies. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 7, 2020, the City and County of Los Angeles as well as the City of San Francisco released new orders and/or guidance regarding reopening plans for certain types of businesses....more
5/11/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Essential Workers ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Screening Procedures ,
Social Distancing ,
Workplace Safety
On May 6, 2020 California Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-62-20, creating a rebuttable presumption that any employee in California who went to work between March 19, 2020 and July 5, 2020, and then tests positive for...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 7, 2020, California issued additional guidance to help businesses prepare to reopen as part of Stage 2 of the State’s 4-staged reopening roadmap. The guidance lays out 5 steps that certain businesses...more
5/8/2020
/ Agribusiness ,
Car Dealerships ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Ports ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retail Market ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a final modified stay at home order that is now effective May 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020. We provided a summary of the anticipated changes based on the...more
On Monday, May 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California will move into Phase 2 of the State’s COVID-19 reopening plan on May 8. Among other things, the shift will allow non-essential retailers to offer...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 29, 2020, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, as well as the City of Berkeley, issued updated shelter-in-place orders....more