Practice Area

Where do we even start when it comes to COVID-19?  That's a question many employers ask themselves and their trusted advisors.  It's a valid question, as the laws, guidance, and public opinion on this topic are constantly changing to stay in lockstep with the virus itself.

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A company's COVID policies and practices may need to keep in mind the potential duties not only to employees, but also to job candidates and contractors.  Laws governing disability and religious accommodations become one of the many potential hot topics in this area of practice, and risky navigation could lead to various complaints, fines, business licensing issues, and more.  Legality aside, COVID-19 has acted like a pressure cooker on the talent market, to the point where employees and candidates may base their decision to keep or take a job based on how the employer treats COVID-19.  

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The pandemic has also led to employers facing heightened challenges relating to the mental health needs of their staff.  Whether these needs are related to COVID-19 itself, or the state of the world generally, it's no surprise that employees and management are feeling the pressure.  (See, e.g., SHRM and Forbes.)  As mental health can be covered by FMLA, ADA, and comparable California laws, employers may want to frequently revisit their employee relations and leaves / accommodations practices in light of the pandemic.  

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PractiCali Law works with employers who are seeking to tailor their people-operations according to the state of COVID-19, which may include, but are not limited to, the following topics: 

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• Vaccines & Boosters

• Mask Mandates

• Temperature Checks

• Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS)

• Exclusion Pay

• Paid Sick Leave

• Return to Workplace

• Rehire Mandates After Layoff

• Work-Related Expense Reimbursements

• Work-Related Injuries while remote

• Wage & Hour

• Timekeeping & Overtime

• Recruitment & Candidate Experience

• City, County, State, and Federal Regulations

• Health & Safety Programs

• OSHA & Cal/OSHA

• ADA/DFEH Accommodations

• FMLA/CFRA Leaves of Absences

• EEOC/FEHA Complaints

• Anti-Retaliation

• Medical Privacy

• Layoffs / Reductions-in-Force