FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT COMPLIANCE
The Department of Labor has started issuing interpretive guidance on the FFCRA, which provides for paid sick and FMLA leave for certain employees. The DOL’s guidance, along with the required Notice of Rights Poster can be found here. Covered employers must share this poster with all employees by either displaying it in a conspicuous place or otherwise distributing it. Email distribution is acceptable. See the DOL’s FAQs for more information.
STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS
Many states have issued “stay-at-home” orders, which require all non-essential workers to remain at home. Workers who support essential or critical businesses and systems are generally exempt from such orders, but only to the extent they cannot perform necessary job functions from home. To determine who is an essential or critical works, many states look to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response.” Minnesota employers can also consult this list of business sectors the Department of Employment and Economic Development (“DEED”) has categorically determined to be essential. DEED is regularly updating the list as it makes additional determinations, so be sure to check for updates periodically.
CARES ACT (UNEMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL TAXES)
The massive federal rescue package, known as the CARES Act, provides a historic expansion to unemployment benefits through December 30, 2020.