State Employment Law Articles

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order 119 (EO), extending the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 crisis, originally scheduled to expire on April 8, 2020, an additional 30 days, to May 8, 2020.

On April 1, 2020, a California Court of Appeal issued a long-awaited decision relating to the use of so-called “unlimited” vacation plans. In McPherson v. EF Intercultural Foundation, Inc., the court ultimately did not decide the viability of such plans under California law, but instead held Califor

New Jersey has emerged as one of the hardest hit states by the COVID-19 crisis. In response, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has issued 12 Executive Orders (and counting), some completely closing or substantially limiting the operations of many businesses. New Jersey also expanded protections and be

On April 3, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the 2021 fiscal year budget that includes an unpaid and paid sick leave program for all New York employees. The permanent sick leave law comes a few weeks after the state enacted emergency sick leave provisions relating to the

In its latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania has ordered mandatory cleaning protocols for large buildings throughout the Commonwealth. On Sunday, April 5, 2020, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine issued an Order to take effect immediately at 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2020. The

On March 28, 2020, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order No. 20-16 establishing a statewide “Stay Home” Order (the “Order”) for Kansas to minimize the risk and spread of infection by COVID-19. The Order went into effect on March 30, 2020, and continues at least until April 19, 2020.

On Friday, April 3, 2020, Governor Mike Parson directed Dr. Randall Williams, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, to issue a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order (“Order”), which is effective April 4, 2020 through April 24, 2020. It is intended to directly reduce furth

On April 3, 2020, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services issued a joint “Stay at Home” Order to protect the public and prevent the further spread of COVID-19 (the “Order”), which includes all of the exceptions set forth in the U.S. Department of Homela

On April 3, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a comprehensive budget bill that, among other things, amends the New York Labor Law1 to require all New York employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave to their employees. The State of New York now joins other states and municipalitie

ashington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued a new Proclamation extending his previous Stay Home – Stay Healthy Proclamation that restricted certain social and recreational activities, closed non-essential businesses, and required social distancing at essential businesses.

On April 3, 2020, Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris executed a statewide Order, effective Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., requiring every person in Alabama to stay at their place of residence unless they are performing “essential activities,” as listed below. The order also imposes

On April 3, 2020, Michigan Governor Whitmer issued an Executive Order prohibiting employers from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise retaliating against an employee for staying home from work because the employee tests positive for COVID-19, displays principal symptoms of COVID-19, or has had cl

Summary: On Thursday April 2, 2020, the County Health Office for San Diego County issued Addendum 1 to the County’s existing Order and Emergency Regulations. Effective at 12:00 am, April 4, 2020, employers in San Diego County who remain open in accordance with State and County Orders must adhere to

As you are all well aware, over the past several weeks counties throughout California have issued restrictive “shelter in place” orders (discussed in detail here and here).

On April 1, 2020, Florida Governor Ron Desantis issued Order 20-91 directing Floridians to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities, and additionally directing senior citizens

On April 2, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp signed an Executive Order requiring Georgia residents and visitors to shelter in place within their homes or places of residence, except to engage in limited essential activities, to perform work for Critical Infrastructure businesses or to perform work activiti

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has issued Executive Order 2020-18, which continues and extends his prior COVID-19 Executive Orders (including the Stay-at-Home Executive Order) through April 30, 2020.

As Illinois employers ponder their futures amid the COVID-19 crisis, many are trying to determine whether some form of reducing employees’ hours is the solution. Many have inquired whether their employees can make up the difference in pay through unemployment compensation (UC) benefits through the I

A Louisiana appeals court in New Orleans recently overturned a trial court’s refusal to enforce a non-competition agreement. The appellate court’s decision instructs employers on the need to define the scope of their businesses for an enforceable agreement. Environmental Safety & Health Consulting S

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, in his 12th Executive Order (EO 113) since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, has authorized the state Director of Emergency Management (OEM), the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, to commandeer “personal services and/or personal property, including medic