COVID-19 Updates & Resources

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the United States, there has been a massive upheaval of the American workplace. Employers have found themselves drafting and implementing policies and procedures addressing a wide array of issues including remote work, layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, workplace conditions and many more.

The purpose of this tool is to assist employers in making (re)opening decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to protect vulnerable workers. It is important to check with state and local health officials and other partners to determine the most appropriate actions while adjusting to meet the unique needs and circumstances of the local community.

The U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application (Application) and instructions (Instructions) for small businesses to use when applying for PPP loan forgiveness with their lender. The release of this Application has been much-anticipated by U.S. small businesses that were able to secure financial relief through the PPP, as many were wondering about the next steps with regard to PPP loan forgiveness.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compels employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees who need it. These accommodations can be straightforward and may include installing a wheelchair ramp or adding text-to-voice software on a computer. In many cases, the accommodation needed for an employee to perform their job is obvious.

New York state has enacted a sick leave law that, depending on their size, requires employers to provide between 40 and 56 hours of paid leave per year for reasons relating to the health of the employee or the employee’s family. Employers with fewer than five employees and an annual income under $1 million may satisfy the law’s leave requirement by providing unpaid leave of 40 hours annually.

Fatigue occurs when an individual does not get enough sleep or quality sleep. It can impair one’s ability to safely perform tasks, including driving. Driver fatigue may be triggered by a lack of adequate sleep, long work hours, strenuous work or non-work activities—or a combination of other factors.

According to cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, 205,280 organizations around the globe reported experiencing a ransomware attack in 2019—a 41% increase over 2018. This fact not only illustrates that ransomware attacks are on the rise, but it also underscores the need for organizations to act to prevent such attacks from impacting their operations. Especially when we consider just how many employees are currently working from home.

Continuity is critical in business, and there are few things more important than continuous revenue and cash flow. In fact, just one brief business interruption can be incredibly costly for an organization, often leading to serious reputational damages or financial harm.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended nearly every industry and has every employer wondering, “When will it be safe to bring employees back to work?” Government guidance can shift rapidly, sometimes within the same week. Shelter-in-place orders have been extended by some officials, with others questioning why restrictions are still in place.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) is working directly with state governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).