Legal Considerations for Reopening the Workplace

On March 18, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo enacted Executive Order 202.6, temporarily closing all nonessential businesses in response to the coronavirus outbreak. In late April, Governor Cuomo issued guidance announcing a phased approach to reopening businesses that requires regions across New York State to satisfy seven criteria involving a drop in the infection rate, increased capacity in healthcare systems, increased ability to administer diagnostic tests and isolate new cases, and a capacity to implement contact tracing. With eight out of the state’s ten regions satisfying Governor Cuomo’s criteria, municipalities and businesses around the state prepare to return to work.

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Donning, Doffing and PPE: The Compensability of Pre-Shift and Post-Shift Activities

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour laws require businesses to record and pay their nonexempt employees for all “compensable time,” including certain activities that occur before an employee begins his or her principal activities during the work day. During the COVID-19 pandemic and after retail employees “return to work,” workers may be required (or choose) to engage in certain tasks at the start of their shifts and throughout the workday.

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OFCCP Revises Voluntary Self-Identification Disability Form

The OFCCP announced on May 8, 2020 that it completed its awaited update to the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form, which was recently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and expires on May 31, 2023. Covered federal contractors and subcontractors have until August 4, 2020 to replace the old form.

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EEOC Pushes Back EEO Data Collections Until January and March 2021

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will delay the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 (Employer Information Report), the 2020 EEO-3 (Local Report) and the 2020 EEO-5 (Elementary-Secondary Staff Information Report) until 2021, in light of COVID-19. Accordingly, EEO-1, EEO-3 and EEO-5 filers should begin preparing to submit data in 2021.

For the full alert, visit the Faegre Drinker website.

New York City Ban on Pre-Employment Drug Testing Takes Effect May 10, 2020

New York City employers should review their existing drug-testing policies to confirm that they are in compliance with the new law taking effect May 10, 2020 that prohibits them from requiring prospective employees to submit to testing for the presence of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols (or THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana).

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OFCCP Issues Directives Regarding Mediation Procedures and Audit Efficiency

The Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released three new directives on April 17, 2020 that formalize its mediation procedures, seek to further increase the efficiency of its compliance evaluations (audits) and expand the role of the agency’s Ombudsman. The OFCCP’s recent directives were designed to further reduce the burden on federal contractors, and further confirms that the agency remains operational and committed to its enforcement efforts.

For the full alert, visit the Faegre Drinker website.

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