As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, pension regulators across Canada have been announcing special measures to help protect the interests of pension plan members, assist pension plan administrators and ensure the ongoing financial health of pension plans, particularly given the negative impact that current financial market conditions have had on the funded status of pension plans. This bulletin summarizes the measures that have been announced to date ...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is making a concerted effort to investigate coronavirus-related cases in which employers allegedly inadequately protected their workers from the pandemic, according to USA Today.[1] A total of 192 COVID-related inspections were launched between Feb. 19 and April 23. The health care industry, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities, appears to be the focus of the OSHA investigations ...
Covid-19 is upending capitalism as we know it. Amid the pandemic, how can businesses rewrite their rule books so as to emerge stronger? Americans have allegedly outbid the French for masks “right on the tarmac” just as the goods were to be flown off to their destination. From Amazon to Rakuten to Carousell, traders exploited fears by price-gouging on masks and hand sanitisers ...
On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued new guidance clarifying that employers may conduct mandatory testing of employees for COVID-19 before they enter the workplace so long as the testing is “job related and consistent with business necessity ...
WHAT'S NEW COVID-19 Business Strategies Hub Since the news first broke about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy, Dinsmore has worked diligently to create the COVID-19 Business Strategies Hub. The Hub features attorney insights and complementary webinars to help you prepare and respond to legal, regulatory, and commercial implications related to the crisis ...
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, has issued a comprehensive “Stay Safe Ohio” Order to be effective May 1, which, among many other things, reopens ambulatory care in Ohio. The new “Stay Safe Ohio” Order is available here and recognizes the “sacrifices and incredible efforts” of Ohioans, which make it possible to begin lifting restrictions ...
On April 30, 2020, WorkSafeBC announced it is moving forward with adding COVID-19 to the list of diseases for which there is a presumption of it being work-related. Employers will now have to rebut the presumption that a worker caught COVID-19 at work to have the claim denied. Addition to the list typically takes between 18-24 months, but WorkSafeBC is hoping to expedite and complete the process in 6 months ...
Below is a summary of key new measures that have been implemented by various UAE authorities since 25 April 2020 and the time of this inBrief, 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, 30 April 2020.I. Economic Relief MeasuresA. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) announces further incentives to support businessesOn 29 April 2020 the ADGM Registration Authority enacted incentives for new businesses, aimed at supporting the establishment of their operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic ...
INFARMED and the DGS have published a set of guidelines for manufacturers and wholesale distributors of medicinal products for human use. The aim of these guidelines is to ensure supply to the domestic market and, at the same time, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and protect the employees of these operators ...
The rapid spread of the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the Covid-19 pandemic have led to a very significant increase in demand for medical devices (MDs) and personal protective equipment (PPE), and there was insufficient supply to meet existing needs during the state of emergency and the period that will immediately follow it ...
As the contagion rate and death toll caused by the Covid-19 emergency (“Covid-19”) continues to decrease, on 26 April 2020 the Prime Minister announced in a press conference the measures adopted to ease the lockdown during the so-called “phase 2”. The new measures are reflected in the Prime Minister Decree dated 26 April 20201 (the “26 April 2020 Decree”) ...
Dykema would like to remind U.S. employers that they must use the October 21, 2019, version of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form beginning May 1, 2020. Since January 31, 2020, employers were allowed to use either the July 17, 2017, or October 21, 2019, version of the form. These dates are indicated in mm/dd/yy format in its bottom left corner. The Form I-9 is used to confirm the identity and employment authorization of people hired as employees by U.S. employers ...
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued Resolutions 677, 679 and 681 adopting the biosecurity protocols for the control and management of COVID-19 risk in the transportation, transportation infrastructure and games of luck and chance sectors. These protocols are complementary to the general biosecurity protocol adopted through Resolution 666 of 2020 and to other measures implemented by corresponding companies ...
Due to the health emergency triggered by COVID-19, various measures that affect the normal operation of the courts of law, have been decreed and adopted by each of the Courts: The Chilean Supreme Court has issued various instructions, all of which may be checked at https://www.pjud.cl/noticias-emergencia-sanitaria, underscoring, among others: Favoring teleworking for judges, court officials and attorneys-at-law. Suspending customer service ...
In Hungary, the Government hasintroduced multiple measures – besides the ongoing curfew restrictions – aimed at helping companies navigate through these hard times. Hédi Bozsonyik, Head of our Employment Law practice, has summarized the most important facts. 1. General employment law related measures a.) The employer has more flexibility in modifying the work schedule even after it was communicated with the employees; b ...
The Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, and the City of Berkeley have jointly issued new Shelter-in-Place orders superseding their existing March 31, 2020 Shelter-in-Place orders ...
On April 27, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, and Governor Mike DeWine announced surgeries that do not require an overnight stay may proceed on May 1, 2020. Other surgeries that meet current essential standards may continue to be performed. Additionally, dental offices and veterinary offices can resume operations on May 1, 2020 ...
On April 10, 2020 the Department of Health and Human Services distributed the first $30 billion in healthcare relief funds. On April 22, HHS followed by allocating another $40 billion in relief funds. These funds will provide much needed assistance to healthcare providers absorbing costs and suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic ...
In our first piece in this returning to work series, we examined the logistical issues associated with returning employees to work. In this latest segment, we will address the legal considerations underpinning the return-to-work process. 1 ...
On April 20, 2020, the National Consumer Service (SERNAC) published the "Interpretative Circular on Supplier’s Good Practices in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic", which seeks to establish the main concepts and criteria for companies to promote good commercial practices in order to protect consumers, especially with regard to their health and physical and psychological integrity ...
On April 24, 2020, the Protocol signed on March 14 2020 (the “H&S Protocol”), providing for the measures to be complied with by employers to continue the activity while ensuring the maximum degree of protection for the employees, has been amended. The amendments encompass all the sections of the H&S Protocol ...
Presidential Directive No. 4 of 2020 (Directive) is the most recent measure taken in the DIFC to ensure proper management in the DIFC during COVID-19. The Directive, issued on 21 April 2020 with immediate effect, announced employment and workforce measures which shall stay in effect up to and including 31 July 2020 (referred to herein as COVID-19 emergency period). We will discuss in this inBrief employment measures included in the Directive ...
