Several weeks have gone by since Governor Newsom paused California’s reopening plan due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, leaving California businesses with little guidance as to when they could resume reopening. On August 28, 2020, the state finally released The Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This new blueprint for reopening is a four-tier,
California to Rollback Reopening Plans as COVID Cases Surge
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Twitter today that the state is rolling back its reopening plans. As a result, restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, family entertainment centers (e.g., bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, and arcades), zoos, museums, and card rooms statewide are required to close all indoor operations. Bars are required to cease all operations
San Francisco Passes Emergency Reemployment Ordinance
Joining Los Angeles and Long Beach, San Francisco has enacted an ordinance requiring certain employers to recall workers laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis before hiring new employees. Hyunki (John) Jung provides all the details here. As always, check out (or, if you’re so inclined, subscribe to) our Coronavirus Resource page for
Tips and Tricks for Assessing FFCRA Benefit Payments
As this pandemic began to take hold in the U.S., I was the one arguing “there is no way they will shut down all of California, it just isn’t practical!” Nearly four months later, I stand corrected (with a mightily bruised ego). With July 4th in our sights, COVID is accelerating across the country and
Los Angeles County Re-Opens for Burgers & Haircuts!
On this sunny Saturday the County of Los Angeles has opened for business just a little bit more.
Angelenos can go to a restaurant (preferably with patio seating), and have a burger and a beer served to them by a server in a mask and a face shield. The guests must also wear a mask
Time to Update Your Injury and Illness Prevention Plan
So many aspects of daily life and doing business have changed during this global pandemic. If you have employees in California, it’s time for your injury and illness prevention plan (IIPP) to change, too.
By way of background, California Labor Code § 6401.7 requires that every employer have a written program that, among other things,
California Moves to Stage 2 (With Local Approval Only)
Governor Newsom announced today that California has moved on to early Stage 2, but only for cities and counties that obtain state approval.
Under Stage 2, certain businesses, establishments or activities may qualify to reopen including:
- Dine-in restaurants
- Limited services
- Outdoor museums
- Shopping centers & all in-store retail
- All office-based workplaces
- All manufacturing industries
California Will Presume that Workers Contracted COVID on the Job
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on May 6, 2020 that creates a rebuttable presumption that employees working outside the home who contract COVID-19 became infected at work. They would therefore be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Here’s how the presumption works. An employee will be presumed to have contracted the virus at work
First Steps for Return-To-Work Planning
I have been speaking with many clients about the first steps for return-to-work planning. The Covid-19 shut-downs were so quick that there wasn’t sufficient time to plan. Employers want to have a more thoughtful approach to bringing the workforce back. Here are a few initial considerations.
First, consider what message you provided to your
Newsom’s Executive Order Focuses On Protections for Food Service Workers
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a massive component of California’s economy is and has been agriculture and food service, including farming, canning, processing, and of course, restaurants. Given the size and scope of these industries in and across California, on April 16, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-51-20, expanding employee protections for Food