State Employment Law Articles

Maryland recently enacted amendments to its Economic Stabilization Act to require that an employer implementing a “reduction in operations” must provide 60 days’ advance notice to employees and others, and also provide continuation of health, pension, severance and/or other benefits to affected empl

The term “force majeure” takes us on a trip down memory lane to the law school classroom where our contracts professor spoke of antiquated doctrines of limited practical use. Or so we thought. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to wreak havoc on industries and businesses around the world, disputes

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) recently issued new guidance for employers, addressing a number of questions related to the effect returning to work will have on employees’ unemployment benefits and employers’ obligations. The guidance addresses topics including the eff

On May 6, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-62-20 , immediately creating a monumental change in how claims of industrially contracted COVID-19 suffered by the state’s “essential workforce” will be addressed.

On May 7, 2020, Michigan Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-77 , extending her April 3, 2020 Stay Home, Stay Safe Order through May 28, 2020, while setting forth a plan to reopen the state in phases as part of the

With Phase 1 of the “Reopening RI” framework set to commence on May 9, 2020, certain non-critical businesses will be able to resume operations. A list of businesses eligible to reopen in Phase 1 is available here . On May 6, 2020, Governor Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) r

Update: On May 8, 2020, Cal/OSHA published a daily checklist and general checklist for employers in the agricultural industry.

Two new City of Los Angeles ordinances that the mayor signed into law on May 4, 2020 will force employers in certain industries to rehire laid off or furloughed employees in a specified manner, rather than at the employer’s discretion.

Effective August 25, 2020, Suffolk County will join a growing number of New York jurisdictions, including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, and Westchester County, in restricting the use of pre-employment inquiries into an applicant’s criminal conviction history, adding to the existing statewide re

Following the Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) release of additional data showing continued progress in mitigating and limiting the spread of COVID-19, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has issued Executive Order (EO) 2020-34, allowing certain businesses to begin reopening for business.

After issuing Executive Orders responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an Order extending Illinois’ stay-at-home mandate through May 30, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has unveiled the “Restore Illinois” plan for reopening the state.

In his 37th Executive Order (EO) since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has extended the state of emergency an additional 30 days (to June 5, 2020), citing the 130,000 positive cases, 8,244 COVID-19-related deaths, and continuing spread of COVID-19 in the state, amon

On April 27, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-18 (GA-18) regarding the reopening of Texas businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

On May 4, 2020, Colorado issued Amended Public Health Order 20-28 , which makes a number of modifications to the state’s Safer at Home Order .

Without a doubt, employers across the globe are contending with myriad issues to keep their employees safe and employed as businesses start to reopen, and Michigan is no exception. In this Insight we provide an update on current requirements, which we expect to persist and expand as sectors of

Both the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans have provided additional information for businesses planning to reopen or expand operations once the current stay-at-home orders are lifted or modified. The state of Louisiana has launched a new Open Safely online platform , where businesses ca

The month of May in Indianapolis is not the same without the Indianapolis 500, which usually runs Memorial Day weekend. Indiana currently plans to hold the race on August 23, 2020. While there will be no cars at the brickyard this May, there is movement toward that goal. According to Governor Holcom

At a press conference on May 4, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the Commonwealth’s three-phase plan for easing, and eventually lifting, the restrictions imposed on nonessential businesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia thus joins the growing number of jurisdictions that h

At a press conference on May 5, 2020, City and County of Denver, Colorado Mayor Michael Hancock announced that Denver’s “Stay at Home” Order will expire on May 8, 2020. Shortly after, Boulder County, Jefferson County, and the Tri-County Health Department (covering Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counti

Maine has begun Stage 1 of a four-stage plan to reopen the Maine economy following the stay-at-home order issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.