COVID-19 Update Center

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April 17, 2020

Rubin Fortunato is committed to providing information and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Visit this site for key take-aways on the HR and employment law challenges that COVID-19 presents.

Rubin Fortunato Client Alerts

• As Mask Mandates Are Lifted, Employers Should Proceed with Caution (May 14, 2021)
• Fully Vaccinated Does Not Mean Fully Normal: The CDC issues guidance for fully vaccinated people (May 4, 2021) 
• Unemployment Benefits May Be Available – and Retroactive – to Employees Who Refuse Unsafe Work (March 2, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccinations Are Here – But Can Employers Require Them? (December 18, 2020)
• Effective November 27, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions (November 25, 2020)
• Philadelphia Announces New “Safer at Home” COVID-19 Restrictions Effective November 20 (November 17, 2020)
• New Employer COVID-19 Requirements Coming to New Jersey (October 30, 2020)
• Tell Your Close Contacts – Contact with COVID-19 Is Closer Than You Think (October 28, 2020)
• The EEOC Updates Its Guidance Regarding COVID-19 (September 18, 2020)
• DOL Revises Rules Related to FFCRA Leave in Response to New York Federal Court’s August Decision (September 17, 2020)
• The DOL Updates Its FAQs Related to the FFCRA and School Reopenings (August 28, 2020)
• New York Federal Court Invalidates Portions of DOL Rule Concerning Who Qualifies for Leave Under the FFCRA (August 13, 2020)
• Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness FAQs (August 13, 2020)
• The DOL Updates Its COVID-19 Guidance (July 28, 2020)
• Pennsylvania Makes $50 Million in Grants Available to Employers of Front-Line Employees (July 20, 2020) 
• The Paycheck Protection Program Is Extended (July 16, 2020)
• Philadelphia Protects COVID-19 Whistleblowers from Retaliation (June 29, 2020) 
• Good News for Small Businesses – PPP Guidelines Loosened for Loan Forgiveness (June 10, 2020)
• 60 Pages of Reopening Guidance from the CDC (May 27, 2020) 
• The SBA and Treasury Release a Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application (May 20, 2020)
• OSHA Adopts Revised Enforcement Policy for Recording Cases of COVID-19 (May 20, 2020)
• The EEOC Updates Its Guidance on COVID-19 to Add Questions-and-Answers Regarding Return-to-Work Situations, Reasonable Accommodations, and Harassment (April 17, 2020)
• “My Mask Protects You, Your Mask Protects Me” (April 17, 2020) 
• “Yes, We’re Open”: Guidance for Employers on Getting Back to Business Safely (April 16, 2020)
• OSHA Issues Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of COVID-19 (April 13, 2020)
• The CDC Says Critical Infrastructure Workers May Continue to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure, and the EEOC Updates Its Guidance on COVID-19 and EEO Laws (April 10, 2020)
• The DOL Issues Even More FFCRA Guidance (April 6, 2020)
• Can’t make payroll? Short on rent? Consider applying for a small business loan. (April 3, 2020)
• Updated DOL Guidance Regarding the FFCRA (March 30, 2020) 
• CARES Expands Unemployment Benefits in Several Ways (March 30, 2020)
• Guidance for Telework in the Pandemic Age (March 27, 2020)
• Required Employee Notices Regarding the FFCRA (March 26, 2020)
• LET’S MAKE A DEAL — REMOTELY: Practical Advice for Using E-Signatures (March 26, 2020)
• MORE DOL HELP IS HERE: The DOL Publishes a Q&A on the FFCRA (March 25, 2020)
• IRS and (More) DOL Guidance on COVID-19 (March 23, 2020)
• New Jersey Legislature Combats COVID-19 Impact (March 22, 2020)
• Office Not Required: 10 Tips For Going Remote (March 22, 2020)
• We Are Very Much Open – – for Remote Business: See how Pennsylvania’s Decision to Shutter Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses Impacts Yours (March 19, 2020)
• The EEOC Has Updated Its Guidance on COVID-19 and the ADA (March 19, 2020)
• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (March 19, 2020)
• A Message from Michael J. Fortunato, President, Regarding COVID-19 (March 17, 2020)
• We’re Here to Help You Practice Good HR Hygiene (March 16, 2020)

External Resources (Please note that these links will take you to an external site.)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Interim guidance for businesses and employers
• Interim guidance for safety practices for critical infrastructure workers
• Fliers – Do’s and Don’ts for essential critical workers exposed to COVID-19 and Do’s for employers of workers exposed to COVID-19
• Guidance on how to wear cloth masks and prepare homemade cloth masks
• CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again
• Strategy for COVID-19 Testing
• Updated Definition of “Close Contact”
• Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

• Order of the Governer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Mitigation, Enforcement, and Immunity Protections
• Updated Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Universal Face Coverings
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Stay at Home Order Guidance 
• PA Department of Health April 15, 2020 Order
• PA guidance on “universal masking”
• Poster- What Type of Mask Do I Need?

Department of Labor

• Guidance on Expanded Eligibility Provisions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program
• Guidance on Posting Notices for Remote or Hybrid Workplaces
• Guidance on Paid Sick and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Amid School and Camp Closures
• COVID-19 Health Coverage Q&A
• Guidance – FFCRA and School Reopenings
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
• DOL Temporary Rule on Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

• Temporary Regulations: Paid Leave Under the FFCRA
• Guidance –FFCRA Questions and Answers
• Guidance – FFCRA: Employee Expanded Family and Medical Leave Rights 
• Guidance – FFCRA: Employer Expanded Family and Medical Leave Requirements
• Poster – Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under the FFCRA
• Poster – Federal Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under the FFCRA
• Guidance – FFCRA Poster FAQ
• Slides – FFCRA Webinar Slides 

Family and Medical Leave Act

• Guidance – COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act Questions and Answers

Fair Labor Standards Act

• Guidance – COVID-19 and the Fair Labor Standards Act Questions and Answers

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Guidance – Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
  • See also What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws

Internal Revenue Service

• News Release regarding COVID-19 Tax Credits

Occupational Health and Safety Administration

• Guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19
• Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Guidance on Recordkeeping Requirements by Industry
• Revised Guidance for Recording Cases of COVID-19
• Guidance on Returning to Work

Small Business Association

• Coronavirus Relief Options
• Table of Size Standards
• 100 Most Active SBA 7 (a) Lenders
• Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application 
• Paycheck Protection Program Homepage
• Paycheck Protection Program FAQs on PPP Loan Forgiveness 

Other Resources

• PA Department of Community and Economic Development COVID-19 Business Resources
• PA Department of Community and Economic Development COVID-19 Hazard Pay Grant
• US Chamber of Commerce SBA Loan Guide and Checklist
• US Treasury Department COVID-19 Assistance
• US Treasury Paycheck Protection Program Application 
• US Treasury CARES Act 
• US Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship – Guide to the CARES Act
• Opinion – State of New York v. United States Department of Labor (invalidating portions of the DOL rule concerning qualifications for FFCRA leave)
• New Jersey Executive Order No. 192
• Philadelphia “Safer at Home” Restrictions