Brooke Colaizzi During the COVID-19 pandemic, both the federal and Colorado state governments used some form of paid sick leave as a tool to help employees through illness, medical treatments, and school and daycare shutdowns. Now, paid sick leave is a permanent requirement for employers in the state of Colorado. On July 14, Governor Polis […]
Category: COVID-19
Colorado Issues Mask Order for Public Indoor Spaces, Including Places of Employment
Joseph Hunt In response to the rising number of cases of COVID-19, Governor Polis issued an Executive Order requiring everyone in Colorado over ten years old to wear a mask when “entering or moving within any Public Indoor Space,” as well as when using or waiting to use public transportation or ride-sharing services. The Executive […]
D.C. Refuses Workers’ Appeal for COVID-19 Emergency Safety Standard – and OSHA Agrees
By Alyssa L. Levy On June 11, 2020, in the matter of In re: AFL-CIO, No. 19-1158 (D.C. Cir. June 11, 2020), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld OSHA’s March 6, 2020 decision not to issue an emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) to “protect working people from occupational exposure to infectious disease, […]
District Court Refuses to Hear Workers’ COVID Claims
By Alyssa L. Levy As employees begin returning to work, the court’s decision in Rural Community Workers Alliance et al. v. Smithfield Foods Inc. et al., No. 5:20-cv-06063 (W.D. Mo. May 5, 2020) may influence whether courts hear claims about worker protections. In this case, the plaintiffs alleged the defendant employer failed to adequately protect its […]
As Economy Reopens, Colorado Paid Sick Leave Expands
By Brooke A. Colaizzi On the heels of Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ “Safer-At-Home,” Order designed to begin the opening of the Colorado economy, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment amended the Colorado Health Emergency Leave With Pay (“HELP”) Rules to increase the paid sick leave available to employees in certain industries suffering or possibly […]
The EEOC Advises Employers on Back-to-Work Preparedness
By Carissa Davis The EEOC notes that to safeguard health and safety, and consistent with the ADA, employers are permitted to make some disability-related inquiries and/or conduct medical examinations in the face of a pandemic. The inquiries or exams must be consistent with business necessity, i.e. necessary to identify employees whose presence would pose a […]
COVID-19 Recommendations for Businesses & Employers from the Arizona Department of Health Services
By Matt Hesketh The Arizona Department of Health Services (the Department) has issued guidance for businesses and employers to help prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Department also issued a fact sheet with information for businesses about COVID-19. Among other things, the Department recommends: Employees awaiting COVID-19 test results should remain in home […]
Arizona Businesses Should Verify Whether They Qualify as “Essential Services” Providers
By Matt Hesketh On March 23, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order that broadly defines “essential services” in Arizona and precludes local governments from closing essential businesses. The order is designed to ensure a consistent policy across the state that protects the ongoing operation of essential services. Click here to read our full advisory about […]
Denver Stay-At-Home Order
By Brooke Colaizzi and Elizabeth Chilcoat The City and County of Denver, City of Boulder, and Pitkin County have joined San Miguel County in issuing orders requiring residents to stay at home. All four stay-at-home orders drastically limit access to childcare for employees. The Pitkin County Order prohibits home-based care for children and daycare and childcare centers that […]
Colorado Adopts Emergency Paid Sick Leave
By Joe Hunt The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment adopted the Health Emergency Leave with Pay Rules, 7 CCR 1103-10, to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The emergency rules require employers in certain industries to provide up to four days of paid sick leave to any employee (a) with flu-like symptoms and […]