Coronavirus: A Weekly Update and Discussion on Legal and Practical Issues: Part One (Webinar)

The viewpoints, risk assessments, and concerns of stakeholders in every organization are in flux as the evolving coronavirus situation morphs on a daily or even hourly basis. Trying to keep ahead of this situation has become complicated. Three experienced labor and employment lawyers from Bond, Schoeneck & King will provide weekly guidance during one-hour webinars from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., each Wednesday, starting on March 25 and continuing April 1 and April 8. 

In these weekly sessions, speakers will summarize the week's latest federal and state guidelines; inform you of approaches being taken by employers and industry leaders; and share the questions they are hearing and provide an update to you.

A sampling of topics that will be discussed includes:

• Governor’s Executive Order 202.6 issued late on March 18, effective March 20  
• Reducing in-person workforce unless essential services 
• What services are “essential” and how to do you apply for exemption 
• Latest Empire State Development Guidance  
• NY sick leave legislation imposing immediate obligations for the employer. 
• New federal legislation dealing with sick pay, US DOL Guidance 
• Wage and hour issues including leave, compensation, a continuation of benefits, FMLA and PFL
• Benefits issues, including PTO and health insurance issues for employees on furlough or layoff 
• Strategies for successful remote working arrangements
• Handling layoffs
• Pay for exempt and non-exempt employees working reduced hours 
• The discrimination and other issues involved in testing and prohibiting employees from working 
• Steps to be taken for employees that test positive or present high-risk situations 
• Handling refusals to work due to safety concerns 
• Best practices and recommendations
• Workplace scenarios, e.g., dealing with employees who have returned to work after traveling to high-risk locations
• Staffing issues and working from home