Information for employers, managers and professionals about the coronavirus covid-19 pandemic

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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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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Virginia leads the nation in COVID-19 Protocol

Virgnia Department of Labor and Industry
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Merritt Green, Founder/Managing Partner, General Counsel, P.C. 703-556-0411 or mgreen@gcpc.com Virginia leads the nation in COVID-19 Protocol All Virginia employers MUST comply by August 26, 2020. August 20, 2020…McLean, VA…Virginia leads the nation with its current mandates laying down strict workplace standards in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
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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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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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Congress Makes PPP Loan Forgiveness Easier

PPP Loan Forgiveness Easier
Congress just passed new legislation with significant changes to the PPP forgiveness terms.  Titled the  Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, Congress’s goal was to ease the burden on businesses  for allocating and spending PPP funds within a finite period of time. Passing with overwhelming bi-partisan support, President Trump is expected to sign this Act into 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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SBA Clarifies PPP Good Faith Certification Question

Small Business Administration Seal
As promised, today the SBA published its latest round of guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the “good faith” certification. We have discussed this topic in detail here and here. Back on April 23rd, in light of public outcry over large, publicly traded companies receiving PPP loans, the SBA clarified that only companies
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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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Additional CARES Act Information for Government Contractors

Link to recording for Government Contracts, CARES Act PPP and 3610
We recently held an interactive session with government contractors following up our earlier post about provisions in the CARES Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and section 3610 that affect those companies doing business with the U.S. Government. In the session, we do a deeper dive and answer questions from government contractors about when and how
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SBA Heightens Certification Requirement for PPP Loans and Provides a Safe Harbor

Requirements for CARES Act PPP
The SBA published new guidance for the Paycheck Protection Program on April 23rd. To no one’s surprise given the press around the first wave of the loans, the SBA ratcheted up the certification requirements for these loans. In a PPP loan application, a borrower needs to certify that the “current economic uncertainty makes this loan
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CARES Act Relief for Government Contractors

U.S. Capital where the CARES Act was put into law
NOTE: more information on this subject is also available in this recording of an interactive session with government contractors about these provisions. You May be Eligible for Reimbursement for Paid Leave Now that the dust has settled on the Paycheck Protection Program (which is also just about out of funding), it is time to look
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The Lifeline for Mid-Sized Businesses: Main Street Lending Option

Main Street Lending Option
On April 9, the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve published the regulations governing the Main Street Lending Program. This program is funded under the CARES Act and is designed to support small and mid-sized businesses who did not qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). However, this program may also be available to
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CARES Act’s Small-Business Loan Programs

Congress passes CARES Act for Coronavirus economic impact
Late last week the President signed into law the CARES Act – a $2 trillion relief package to help companies harmed by the Coronavirus outbreak.  A very important part of this Act is the “Paycheck Protection Program” — which provides for nearly $350 billion for small business loans.   This program was set up through the
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Coronavirus Impact on Business Contracts – Live Recording 4/1/2020

Coronavirus covid-19 impact on contract obligations
The quarantine and social distancing stemming from the Coronavirus covid-19 pandemic, has an effect on many businesses ability to meet their contractual obligations. In this live recording of attorney Lewis Rhodes talking to business owners on April 2, 2020, he covers the implications to businesses who are unable to meet their contractual obligations due to
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) – Employer Notice 3/27/2020

Families First Coronavirus Response Act FFRCA
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL) has released the required notification poster for the recently-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  As described here, the FFCRA required covered employers – which is all employers with 1 to 499 employees, to provide two different forms of paid leave to employees who
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Telecon Recording: Employment Implications of Employment Legislation for Coronavirus – 3/25/2020

Corona Virus Legislation Implications for Employers
In a conference call on 3/26/2020, employment attorney Amy Muhlendorf provides an overview of the implications for employers of the new legislation related to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, and answers many questions put to her by employers on the call. Listen in on the live summary and interaction to learn more. Please contact Amy or
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