Last week, the Illinois General Assembly passed House Bill 2455, which amends the Workers Compensation Act to create a rebuttable presumption that a first-responder or essential worker who contracts COVID-19 did so in the...more
City Council approved an amendment to the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance to temporarily protect employers from lawsuits. Although the substantive requirements of the Ordinance will still go into effect on July 1, 2020 as...more
This week, the Chicago City Council approved an Ordinance ensuring that “Covered Employees” can remain at home for COVID-19 related reasons without fear of being fired, even if they have exhausted any legally-mandated or...more
On Friday, the President signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which provided an addition $310 billion into the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program. The program goes live again on April...more
On April 14, 2020, the State of New York filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor challenging the DOL’s regulations, governing implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)....more
To clear up some uncertainty in the language of the CARES Act’s Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) and the subsequent interim final rules, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”)...more
On April 13, 2020, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) issued an emergency rule creating a rebuttable presumption that first responders and other essential workers identified in Governor Pritzker’s March 20...more
Over the past two weeks, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new poster, safety tips specific to retail workers, and updated guidance for employers that have mandatory respirator programs....more
The SBA issued Interim Final Rules and additional guidance regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Generally, the PPP provides forgivable loans to small business and nonprofits to cover payroll costs, rent,...more
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. Among other things, the Act provides relief programs for employers, including loans, grants and tax incentives.
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The FFCRA requires private employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers to provide emergency paid sick and FMLA leave benefits to employees for reasons related to COVID-19....more
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) requires employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers to provide emergency sick and FMLA leave benefits to employees for reasons related to COVID-19....more
The Paycheck Protection Program is one of the key relief provisions included in the $2 trillion relief package under the CARES Act. This program provides forgivable loans to small businesses and nonprofit organizations to...more
4/2/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Small Business ,
Tax Relief
Over the weekend (March 28 and 29, 2020), the United States Department of Labor updated its Question and Answers webpage providing guidance regarding implementation of the paid sick and FMLA leave provisions of the Families...more
4/1/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
EFMLA ,
EPSLA ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
New Legislation ,
Quarantine ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Small Business ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to develop, one question employers are beginning to ask is whether and when they are obligated to provide notices to employees under the federal and state WARN Acts. ...more
Yesterday afternoon (March 24, 2020), the Department of Labor issued Question & Answer guidance concerning the emergency paid sick leave and expanded FMLA leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. For...more
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its guidance for employers facing the ever-increasing challenges arising from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. ...more
On both Monday and Tuesday, we reported on HR6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act bill, which provides employees affected by coronavirus with paid sick leave and paid FMLA benefits. The leave provisions in the...more
On March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in response to the ongoing coronavirus emergency. HR6201 includes two new laws relating to employee leave from...more
3/17/2020
/ China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Yesterday, we informed you that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Act, which requires employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers to provide paid sick leave and paid...more
Since the first reported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, school districts in Illinois have been preparing for a potential outbreak within the state. In so doing, school...more
3/12/2020
/ Absenteeism ,
Best Practices ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Educational Institutions ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Students ,
Teachers ,
Workplace Safety
OSHA has released “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” a 32-page booklet describing “lower exposure,” “medium exposure,” and “high or very high exposure” risk occupations and what precautions employers can take...more
3/12/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a news alert yesterday addressing the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act on employers’ responses to a potential...more
3/5/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employee Privacy Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Risk Management ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety