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Mar 27 2020
DisabilityLeave LawsWage and Hour

WASHINGTON: Paid Family and Medical Leave law amended

On March 25, 2020, Governor Inslee signed an amendment to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) program (SHB 2614). This bill doesn’t have anything to do with the current pandemic. Instead, it makes technical corrections to the WPFML program, to ensure the intent of the original bill is intact. The new bill signed…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Employee BenefitsWashington

WASHINGTON: Work search requirements waived for unemployment

Governor Inslee signed a proclamation that waives the work search requirements for receiving unemployment insurance. The governor previously waived the one-week waiting period, so the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) can provide immediate benefits to those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus). “We need to do whatever we can to help those…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Online form available to clarify essential business status

For Washington businesses still unclear about whether they’re essential and thus allowed to continue operating during Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order, the state has created a simple online form to request clarification or ask to be added to the list of essential businesses. The order, which closed non-essential businesses in Washington for two…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Home and commercial construction not “essential”

On March 25, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee released a memo clarifying which construction workers are included in the “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” list. Only those included on the list are allowed to travel to their essential businesses, according to the governor’s Stay Home—Stay Healthy Order, which seeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: Workers can report workplace COVID-19 safety violations

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is encouraging workers who believe their company isn’t following safety and health advisories related to COVID-19 (coronavirus) to file a report online with Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Oregon OSHA has the authority to investigate the complaint and require compliance with all workplace restrictions related to the coronavirus. The OSHA…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19

MONTANA: Governor Bullock issues stay-at-home order

Governor Steve Bullock has joined a number of other states in issuing an order that requires individuals to stay home due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), unless engaging in certain activities deemed essential. Under Governor Bullock’s order, all businesses in Montana must close, except those that are engaged in “Essential Businesses and Operations,” which includes a variety…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19California

CALIFORNIA: Guidance issued on partial suspension of Cal-WARN notice

Guidance is now available from the Labor & Workforce Development Agency on Governor Gavin Newsom’s temporary suspension of certain employer obligations under the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN Act) if employers need to close or downsize suddenly due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation. As we previously reported, the governor directed the Labor…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

New Social Distancing Policy available

Vigilant has developed a new Social Distancing Policy to help employers comply with orders that have been issued by various state governors in the past week, requiring implementation of social distancing measures at work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). In particular, Oregon employers are required to “establish, implement, and enforce” a social distancing…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Leave Laws

New mandatory poster available

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – FAQs, the FFCRA poster must be provided to employees and new hires by the effective date of the law, which the DOL now says is April 1, 2020. This posting requirement only applies to covered employers, and would therefore not…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Employee BenefitsLeave Laws

DOL says FFCRA is effective April 1, 2020

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has established April 1, 2020, as the effective date of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The law stated that it would “take effect not later than 15 days after the date of enactment,” which would mean April 2, 2020, at the latest. Apparently the DOL decided to…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Leave Laws

Small employers now need to learn about FMLA administration

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which goes into effect April 1, 2020, expands the definitions of eligible employee and covered employer under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in a way that will affect employers who previously were too small to be covered by the FMLA. Prior to the expansion, an…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Idaho

IDAHO: Order issued to self-isolate for non-essential activities

On March 25, 2020, Dave Jeppesen, Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, issued an Order to Self-Isolate for the State of Idaho, which requires all Idaho residents to self-isolate and all non-essential businesses to close from 1:30 p.m. on March 25, 2020, until 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2020, unless the order…

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