In the current situation, employees who come into contact with other employees may be diagnosed with COVID-19. What is an employer’s obligation to notify other potentially exposed employees? Employers have a general duty to provide a safe workplace under Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA ...
On March 17, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced a new tax plan to stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 crisis. Under the new plan, individuals and corporations can defer $1 million, and $10 million, respectively, in tax payments for 90 days. Importantly, individual and corporate taxpayers can take advantage of the new plan without incurring any interest or penalties ...
On March 16, seven Bay Area counties issued "shelter-in-place" restrictions, which create compliance issues for cannabis operations licensed as dispensaries or as delivery services ...
We are conscious that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is top of mind for everyone these days, and our first hope is that all of our clients and their loved ones are healthy and safe. Many of our private lending clients have had questions regarding actions they should be taking in response to the pandemic and the effect voluntary and, in some cases mandated, “social distancing” measures are having on their businesses and the economy ...
California has implemented procedures for employees to obtain unemployment, paid family leave, or disability insurance benefits related to COVID-19. Here are the main points: If employee is unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 and has the necessary supporting medical documentation, employee may file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim (1-week waiting period waived) ...
As each day that passes while COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, more businesses are closing their doors to protect their employees, customers, vendors, and other people with whom they come into contact. And many of them are wondering whether there is coverage for their business losses during this time. Business interruption or business income coverage is sometimes included in commercial property coverage ...
On March 11, 2020, the City of San Francisco announced measures to support small businesses in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The City’s support efforts include the deferral of business taxes and licensing fees, as well as the launch of an economic relief fund ...
A more recent examination of H.R. 6201, Family Medical Leave Act Expansion, is available here. In the early morning hours of March 14, the House passed H.R. 6201, which now moves to the Senate, where changes are likely to be made before enactment ...
We have been asked whether businesses should cancel or severely limit business meetings and social engagements due to the Coronavirus pandemic crisis. It is admittedly difficult to run a business while essentially sheltering in place until such time, as the country achieves some sort of reliable testing program and medical treatment availability. Our recommendation is to cancel all but the most critical of meetings and gatherings ...
Federal and state occupational safety and health regulations require employers to record and report certain work-related injuries and serious illnesses, including work-related fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations. While Cal/OSHA has stated that the common cold or flu are exempt from reporting and recording requirements, even if the employee became ill at work, this exemption does not apply to COVID-19 ...
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) have issued guidance for employers. The guidelines provide guidance on how to determine if COVID-19 is a hazard in the workplace and employer obligations. Is COVID-19 a Workplace Hazard? Employers should determine if COVID-19 infection is a hazard in their workplace ...
On March 12, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20 (“Executive Order”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, invoking the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Services Act under Government Code section 8572. The Executive Order is available here ...
Companies, municipalities, and water systems must now report their per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) use to the federal government. A new federal law requires facilities using 100 pounds per year of a listed PFAS compound to self-report to the national Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Monitoring and reporting requirements are often prerequisites to cleanup and enforcement, and this collection of data may be a bellwether for the future regulation of PFAS ...
Introduction The recent spread of the coronavirus around the world is justifying significant concern among senior living operators and raising questions about how to prepare for and respond to the possibility that the disease will affect residents, staff, and visitors. This concern is exacerbated by the fact that seniors tend to be more vulnerable to such communicable diseases and live in close quarters with others at the community, sharing meals and participating in group activities ...
