State Employment Law Articles

Following an afternoon press conference on March 20, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued an Executive Order requiring all individuals currently living within the State of Illinois to “stay at home or at their place of residence,” except as specifically allowed by the Order.

On Saturday, March 21, 2020, Missouri government officials issued a series of new orders to address the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) for the State of Missouri, St. Louis County, and City of St. Louis. These measures include a “Social Distancing” order for the State of Missouri and “Stay at Ho

In an effort to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page has announced that as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020, all non-essential businesses in St. Louis County, Missouri will be required to close through 11:59 p.m. on April 22, 2020. St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Kr

Note: Because the COVID-19 situation is dynamic, with new governmental measures each day, employers should consult with counsel for the latest developments and updated guidance on this topic.

On March 21, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order No. 107, which directs additional closures of non-essential retail businesses (with certain exceptions) and establishes uniformity in the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

On March 18, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed a bill that guarantees emergency paid sick leave and job protections for individuals who have been quarantined as a result of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. It does not include permanent paid sick leave, which the draft had included. T

With federal and state legislation constantly evolving, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office issuing multiple executive orders, New York employers are struggling to understand their coronavirus (COVID-19) paid leave obligations. The key provisions of the state’s new Quarantine Leave Law, whic

At a press conference on March 20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicated he will be issuing an order directing non-essential businesses to reduce in-person employees 100 percent

On March 17, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-31-20 (the “Order”) as part of California’s response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The Order addressed two discrete issues: (1) exempting interstate motor carriers from certain state requirements to support emergency

On March 16, 2020, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics’ new Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order Number 36 (“COMPS Order 36”) officially went into effect. COMPS Order 36 applies to virtually all private employers in Colorado and ov

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 epidemic, Connecticut Governor Lamont recently signed two additional Executive Orders, 7E and 7F, which implement measures in Connecticut to further combat the fast-spreading virus. Earlier this week, Governor Lamont signed Executive Orders 7C and 7D, wh

On March 17, 2020, the District of Columbia City Council unanimously approved, and the mayor signed, the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act (the “Act”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other measures aimed at helping District businesses and residents, the Act temporarily expands co

The Office of the Nevada Labor Commissioner has issued formal guidance regarding employees’ rights to use—and employers’ obligations to provide—mandatory paid leave in light of COVID-19. Specifically, the guidance addresses whether employers may require employees to use any paid leave hours they may

New York State adopted new legislation on March 18, 2020, in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across New York. The legislation provides employees, who are subject to a COVID-19 mandatory or precautionary quarantine or isolation order, with immediate paid or unpaid time off specif

In rapid succession, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, then strongly urged all non-essential Pennsylvania businesses to follow suit and voluntarily cease operations for 14 days to he

The Puerto Rico Senate has revised House Bill 2428 to replace the provision of 20 days of unpaid emergency leave due to diagnosis of a pandemic illness with five days of paid emergency leave.

The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce has issued a clarification on the mandatory lockdown of non-essential commerce in response to employer appeals.

In the wake of Governor Wanda Vázquez-Garced’s March 15, 2020 Executive Order (EO 2020-023) enacted to facilitate the private and public closings necessary to combat the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and control the risk of contagion, there has been much confusion within the private business

Following declaration of a state of emergency by Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on March 16, 2020, the Puerto Rico Senate has approved a bill addressing sick leave for private sector employees and requiring employers to pay employees if the employer dec

On March 18, 2020, the Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation (PR-SIF) adopted additional measures for the benefit of employers in Puerto Rico due to the emergency caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).