Last week, New York enacted new legislation regarding leave and other benefits for certain employees relating to COVID-19.  (The federal government also passed the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which we have covered in a prior blog post).  Unlike the federal laws, which take effect on April 2, the state law took effect immediately.  Here is a summary of what employees are entitled to receive under this new law.

Read More >> A Summary of New York's COVID-19 Leave Law

As part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was signed by President Trump on March 18, Congress enacted the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act.  Both of these enactments impose significant new obligations on employers.  Here is a summary of what employers need to know.

Read More >> The Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act: A Summary for Employers

In his daily press briefing, Governor Cuomo stated this morning that all non-essential businesses will be required to reduce their workplace staffs to zero.  He stated that this will be enforced.  Violations of the workplace reduction will result in civil fines and even mandatory closure for any business not in compliance.  NOTE:  ESSENTIAL SERVICES DO NOT HAVE TO BE REDUCED.

Read More >> COVID-19: Update from the Governor’s Press Conference Today

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6 late on March 18th.  Under the order, effective as of March 20th at 8 p.m., all businesses and not-for-profit entities are to use any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize to the maximum extent possible.  This order does not apply to government entities, municipalities and public schools.  This order requires every employer, unless exempted, to reduce its in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% by today, March 20th, at 8 p.m.

On March 19th, the Governor issued Executive Order 202.7.  This order requires every employer, unless exempted, to reduce its in-person workforce at any work locations by 75% by tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, at 8 p.m.

Read More >> New Executive Order Requires Reduction of In-Person Workforce by 75%

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6 late on March 18.  Under the order, effective as of March 20 at 8 p.m., all businesses and not-for-profit entities are to use any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely utilize to the maximum extent possible.

Most importantly, unless excepted, each employer is to reduce the in-person workforce at any work locations by 50% by tomorrow, Friday, March 20, at 8 p.m.

Read More >> Governor Cuomo Issues Executive Order 202.6 to Reduce In-Person Workforce by 50%

There is a lot of information available on the internet regarding an employer’s obligations in preparing for and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a responsible employer, your organization has likely taken many steps to prepare for some of the work-related fall-out from this pandemic.

Still, if and when the first confirmed case of a COVID-19 infection in one of your employees occurs, it is normal to experience a momentary “panic freeze” about what to do.  This blog post lays out the basic rules to follow and resources to check.

Read More >> An Employee Has COVID-19. Now What Do I Do?

The COVID-19 pandemic has already caused severe disruption to many businesses across the country. Employers will be required to continue to monitor developments and adjust to changing circumstances in the coming weeks and possibly months. We provide the following recommendations for employers in dealing with the many employment-related issues that will inevitably arise.

Read More >> The COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations for Employers

On February 26, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board issued its final rule regarding the standard for determining joint employer status.  The final rule overturns the standard articulated in the Board’s 2015 Browning-Ferris decision and returns to the pre-Browning-Ferris “direct control” standard.  The final rule also provides greater clarity regarding the application of the standard.  The purpose of the rule is to increase predictability and consistency with respect to the Board’s determination of joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act.  The final rule will go into effect on April 27, 2020.

Read More >> NLRB Issues Final Rule on Joint Employer Status

On February 6, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an amendment to New York Labor Law § 592 that reduces the period of time that striking workers must wait before receiving unemployment insurance benefits.  The amendment took effect immediately.

Read More >> New York Reduces the Period of Time that Striking Workers Must Wait Before Receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits

On January 16, 2020, the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its final rule to revise and update its regulations regarding joint employer status.  The final rule largely adopts the proposed rule the DOL published in April of 2019, which we wrote about here.  The final regulations become effective March 16, 2020, and mark the first significant revision since they were enacted in 1958.  Employers should take note of these new regulations because if an employee is found to be jointly employed by two employers, both employers are jointly and severally liable for all wages owed to that employee, including overtime wages.

Read More >> U.S. Department of Labor Adopts Joint Employer Regulations

The U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") recently issued updated regulations which clarify what types of compensation provided by employers can properly be excluded from the regular rate for overtime computation purposes.  The DOL's stated purpose in updating its regular rate regulations (which had not been significantly revised in more than 50 years) is to better reflect the 21st century workplace and to encourage employers to provide additional and innovative benefits to employees without fear that those forms of compensation might result in additional overtime obligations.  The updated regulations became effective on January 15, 2020.

Read More >> U.S. Department of Labor's Updated Regulations Clarify Exclusions From the Regular Rate

The New York State Department of Labor, after holding multiple hearings across the state regarding the impact of tip credits for employees covered by the Minimum Wage Order for Miscellaneous Industries and Occupations, issued a report recommending the elimination of the tip credit for all miscellaneous industry workers.  Governor Cuomo recently announced that this recommendation will be implemented in two phases.  Effective June 30, 2020, the tip credit will be cut in half.  Effective December 31, 2020, the tip credit will be eliminated entirely.  This will affect an estimated 70,000 employees, in occupations such as car wash attendants, nail and hair salon workers, tow truck drivers, dog groomers, wedding planners, tour guides, and valet parking attendants.  This will not affect employees covered by the Hospitality Industry Wage Order, such as service employees and food service workers in hotels and restaurants.

Read More >> Governor Cuomo Announces Plan to Eliminate Tip Credit for Employees Outside the Hospitality Industry