Virginia Temporary (Covid-19) Emergency Standard for Employers 09 15 2020

General Counsel Recorded Webinar
Pursuant to Virginia’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard passed by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, all employers in Virginia must take certain actions to comply with the Standard. We’ve provided brief webinar for Virginia Employers to understand what this statute is, why it is important to you and how to get your business compliant
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How Can You Comply with Virginia’s MANDATORY COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard?

Learn How in This Webinar! Recorded Sep 15, 2020 at 12:30 PM EDT. This Webinar provided an overview of the Virginia Emergency Temporary Standard and discuss the Virginia Emergency Standard Forms Generator (VES Forms Generator) (www.covidcomplianceplans.com), to help Employers easily and inexpensively create the tools to comply with the Emergency Temporary Standard.
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District of Columbia Passes New COVID-19 Regulations for Employers

Employer Regulations for Covid-19
D.C. recently passed the Protecting Businesses and Workers from COVID-19 Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. The order requires employers, for the duration of the public health emergency, to “adopt and implement social distancing and worker protection policies to prevent transmission of COVID-19” in accordance with Mayor’s Order 2020-080. The Act also prohibits employers from retaliating
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Acclaim Technical Services, LLC Acquires Global Consulting Services, Inc.

Congratulations to General Counsel, P.C. client Global Consulting Services, Inc. (GCS) on its acquisition by Acclaim Technical Services, LLC. We were pleased to help with legal services through this transaction. Acclaim Technical Services, LLC (ATS)announced Sept. 1 it has acquired Global Consulting Services, Inc. (GCS), a Rockville, MD-based company with approximately 30 employees, to meaningfully differentiate and
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How to Read a U.S. Government RFP Webinar 9 3 2020

General Counsel Recorded Webinar
Lewis Rhodes, GovCon attorney at General Counsel, P.C., delivered a webinar on how ponteial government contractors should read a government request for proposal (RFP) to maximize their odds of winning while minimizing their risk of an award being protested.  
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Forms Generator to Help Employers Comply COVID-19 Emergency Standard

Link to video on what, why and how the VES Forms Generator helps Virginia Employers comply with COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (16VAC25-220)
6849 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 220 McLean, Virginia 22010 Phone: 703-556-0411 / Fax: 703-774-3965 Web: www.generalcounsellaw.com PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Merritt Green, Founder/Managing Partner, General Counsel, P.C. 703-556-0411 or mgreen@gcpc.com Virginia Emergency Standard Forms Generator (VES Forms Generator) Available to Help Employers Comply with Virginia’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard August 26, 2020…McLean, VA…Employer
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Employer Obligations & Penalties – COVID-19 Emergency Standard

Virginia Emrgency Covid-19 Mandatory Standard for Employers
6849 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 220 McLean, Virginia 22010 Phone:  703-556-0411 / Fax:  703-774-3965 Web:  www.generalcounsellaw.com PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Merritt Green, Founder/Managing Partner, General Counsel, P.C. 703-556-0411 or mgreen@gcpc.com Employer Obligations and Penalties of the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard All Virginia employers MUST comply by August 26, 2020. August 21, 2020…McLean, VA…Virginia’s
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Should Your Business Consider A Business Interruption Lawsuit Against Your Insurance Company

Closed Store
A recent decision in the Western District of Missouri may have set the stage for “business interruption” coverage for businesses for losses resulting from COVID-19. Business interruption insurance replaces lost income when a business has to temporarily close. The policies generally apply when there’s “direct physical loss or damage.” “Direct physical loss or damage” typically
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Maintaining Confidentiality During Workplace Investigations

Workplace Investigation
In a recent case, the Western District of Virginia found that emails between defendants were not entitled to the work product privilege and were instead discoverable. The court held that for the work product privilege to apply, the subject materials “must be part of the process of seeking, developing, or conveying legal advice or strategy”
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Virginia Covid-19 Rules for Employers – Part 2

Virgnia Department of Labor and Industry
As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has promulgated new temporary measures that all employers within Virginia must adhere to in order to minimize the risk of contagion. The new law is expected to take effect on July 27, 2020, and all employers within the state must
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Can Employers Be Held Liable If Employees Contract Coronavirus In The Workplace?

Employee at work
Now that local and state restrictions are easing and businesses are starting to reopen, business owners must determine whether and to what extent to reopen the workplace. While they may be eager to reopen workplaces for financial reasons, they may also be wondering what may happen if they reopen and an employee or customer contracts
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What to Consider Before Implementing a Mandatory Arbitration Agreement for Your Business

Writing Contracting Dispute Language
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution, aimed at resolving disputes outside of the traditional court system. You can find more information about arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution generally, here. In context of employment agreements, mandatory arbitration requires employees to utilize arbitration instead of the public court system and these agreements are typically entered
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Virginia is the First State to Mandate Emergency COVID-19 Rules for Employers

Virgnia Department of Labor and Industry
In July 2020, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry voted to implement strict work-place standards in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Click here to view §16VAC25-220, Emergency Temporary Standard). These new standards are applicable to most employers, and all state-owned and operated businesses and offices. The measures were to take effect on July
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Business Attorney Matthew Brennan Joins General Counsel, P.C.

Matthew Brennan, Business Attorney
NEWS RELEASE Contact:  Merritt Green (mgreen@gcpc.com)  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Matthew Brennan (mbrennan@gcpc.com)  June 23, 2020     Telephone:  703-556-0411 McLean, Virginia:  General Counsel, P.C. is honored to have Mr. Matthew Brennan join the firm.  For the past 25 years, Mr. Brennan represented clients at Brennan & Waite, P.L.C., a firm he
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Supreme Court Holds Title VII Includes Protections for LGBT Employees

U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination protects gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) workers. The 6-3 decision makes clear that employers cannot discriminate against gay or transgender workers for being gay or transgender. These protections apply to all employers with 15 or more employees. The Supreme Court’s decision was
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Virginia Enacts Ban the Box legislation for Marijuana Possession

Virginia Marijuana Possession Legislation
On May 21, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana under Virginia law. Under the new legislation, it is still unlawful to possess marijuana, with medical exceptions, but possession will now result in a civil penalty of no more than $25. Simple possession of marijuana will no longer lead to
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Series of New Laws Reshape Virginia Employment Law

Updating Employee Documentation
Recently, the Virginia General Assembly passed a collection of new laws that transform employment law in Virginia, creating more protections for employees. While previously Virginia had been considered a reasonably business-friendly state, the changes resulting from these new laws will create challenges for employers in Virginia. These new laws cover a series of employment law
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COVID-19 Employer and Employee Rights and Obligations

Post Covid-19 Company Meeting
While businesses are reopening and employees are returning to the workplace, things aren’t quite “business as usual.” Employers must manage the return to the office, keeping in mind the health and safety of their employees and customers, as well as federal, state, and local regulations. Employers may also have to consider what to do if
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COVID-19 in the Workplace: Taking Employees’ Temperatures At Work

Thermal scanner for workplace
As we move through the COVID-19 pandemic, employers continue to balance the risks of operating in these trying times. One question many employers have is whether they can monitor employees’ health, including requiring employees to submit to a temperature check before being allowed to work. Under usual circumstances, taking an employee’s temperature would be a
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SBA Extends PPP Loan Safe Harbor Date And DOJ Brings First PPP Fraud Charges

First DOJ Government Stimulus Fraud Case
As we noted here back on April 23rd the SBA published new guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) around the certification that the “loan request [is] necessary to support the ongoing operations” of the borrower. Specifically in that guidance, the SBA noted that having access to other sources of sufficient liquidity would prevent a borrower from making
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