Member Article

A panel of Bradley labor and employment and cybersecurity attorneys discuss coronavirus-related issues facing employers, including:

• How should you talk with your employees about the rapidly changing situation with the coronavirus and what it means for them as employees?
• What are the wage and hour, benefits and data security issues implicated by employees working remotely?
• What are the options for maintaining or reducing your workforce when the coronavirus results in supply chain interruption, health risks or loss of customer flow?
• How do you navigate FMLA and ADA leave and accommodation obligations relating to the coronavirus while also maintaining a safe workplace as required by OSHA?

Webinar Recording:

Key Takeaways:

• If you need to furlough, lay off or otherwise reduce employee hours or pay, check the WARN Act, local laws, and consult your lawyers. Be empathetic with your employees and ensure them that your goal is to remain viable as a business and employer into the future.
• If your employees are going to work from home, check your cyber-insurance coverage and remind employees to be vigilant. If a suspicious email is received, pick up the phone and confirm the email. The coronavirus will not be much of a defense if you have a data breach.
• If an employee or a member of their household is sick, tell them to stay home. Whether and how an employee is paid is dependent on the situation, but we address the subject at www.bradley.com/coronavirus.
• Review your paid leave options. Keep an eye on what the federal government decides to do about paid leave.
• Be calm, and take this one week at a time. And remember, we will get through this together.