In the face of the COVID-19 emergency, employers are struggling with many questions about the impact in the workplace. This document provides answers to many Frequently Asked Questions. As this is a fast-moving and volatile situation, we will be constantly updating this document.

Maryland’s Governor issued an Order expanding the mandated use of face coverings to almost all private workplaces, effective 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2020. In addition, new travel restrictions were also announced, including “strongly recommending” 14-days quarantine periods for certain travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidance on when those with COVID-19 may be released from self-isolation and thereby return to work.

The National Labor Relations Board’s Office of General Counsel released a memo, GC 20-10, that provides guidelines for conducting manual elections during the pandemic.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the National Labor Relations Board issued a slew of Advice Memoranda this month that offer some guidance to employers, both unionized and non-union.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued additional Q&A resources to provide guidance to employers on COVID-19-related issues under the FLSA, FMLA, and the FFCRA.

As offices and other workplaces reopen, employers are struggling with the issue of masks and face coverings in the workplace.

The Department of Labor issued several field bulletins this month on issues related to COVID-19 and school children, as well as damages in enforcement actions.

Several federal agencies have recently issued additional COVID-19 guidance of interest to employers

The President signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (“the Act”) into law, making key modifications to the Paycheck Protection Program

Without fanfare on May 27, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance for employers of office workers (as well as updated guidance for restaurants and bars).

The CDC has issued a lengthy document in support of the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again, containing specific Interim Guidance documents for employers with high-risk workers, as well as for child care programs, schools, bars and restaurants, and mass transit.

OSHA has reversed direction, with increased in-person workplace inspections and recording obligations.

The SBA issued two interim final rules providing guidance on the requirements for loan forgiveness and loan review procedures and related borrower and lender responsibilities under the PPP.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that it is delaying the submission of this year’s EEO-1 forms until March 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal government agencies, including the CDC and the EEOC, and many state and local governments have approved of the use of temperature screening as part of a business’s return-to-work strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Various federal agencies have recently issued additional COVID-19 guidance of significance (more or less) to employers.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided updated guidance on several issues of relevance to employees infected with COVID-19.

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) issued new Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and added to its extensive Questions and Answers resource for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws” resource to expand upon its guidance on some issues of concern to employers – reasonable accommodations and employee testing.

The District of Columbia temporarily expanded both its Family and Medical Leave Act (DC-FMLA) and its Sick and Safe Leave Act (DC-SSLA) to include COVID-19-related reasons.

Governor Hogan issued “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery,” his plan for reopening the state as the COVID-19 pandemic crisis begins to ease. This plan is of critical interest and importance to Maryland employers, and we outline the plan here.

During the past week or so, various federal agencies have issued additional COVID-19 guidance of significance (more or less) to employers. We summarize these developments.

On April 1, 2020, the effective date of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Department of Labor issued its implementing regulations.

The Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, updated its Frequently Asked Questions

Governor Hogan has issued an Executive Order, effective 8:00 p.m. on March 30, 2020, requiring all Maryland residents to stay at home except to conduct essential activities.

Under the “Paycheck Protection Program” the federal government will essentially give an employer 2.5 times its monthly payroll, to use for paying wages, rent, mortgage interest and utilities.

The CARES Act imposes important new requirements on the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program.

President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion bill that contains provisions that will provide relief to businesses and individuals negatively impacted by the recent pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Labor updated its Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers on March 28, 2020 to provide guidance on a number of key issues.

The DOL updated its FFCRA: Questions and Answers to provide more guidance about the paid sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requirements under the FFCRA.