The Soto Law Group, P.A.

  What is Next If your Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19? OSHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration ) and the CDC ( Center for Diseases Control ) have published and revised guidelines on how to proceed if an employee shows symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. I.                    Immediate Response   If an employee shows symptoms or has tested positive with COVID-19, employer should require employee to self-isolate and monitor symptoms as well as consult with his/her doctor immediately. In most situations you do not need to shut down the workplace. However, do close off any areas that could be contaminated or were used for an extended period of time by infected persons. The CDC recommends waiting 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize others from being exposed to respiratory droplets. Any member or staff who has a COVID-19 patient in his home ...

  As States start reopening sectors of the economy, it is important to have a plan in action to facilitate this transition. Below you will find a list of recommendations for the construction industries and other businesses.    Check Best Health Practices and Guidelines   The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) website should be checked for updates. Moreover, recommendations and executive orders of the concerned State and the local health agency should be closely monitored.    For the construction industry, it is wise to communicate the status of construction and what contractors are doing to maintain safe and productive job sites, it is advisable to cover which standards and practices are in place on job sites and how to best approach the decisions on which projects should be permitted and how to phase in those decisions.    The procedure for communicating changes to employees ...

HOW WILL THE NEW FMLA LAWS AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS? With the continuous spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on public health, business owners are urged to stay up to date on the amended employment laws.  Whether employees are calling out due to illness or childcare complications, it is vital for employers to know how these new laws affect their business and their employees.  For those employers with less than 500 employees, H.R. 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act [1] has expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  Under Division C – Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, there now exists emergency paid leave benefits as it relates to COVID-19.  This new enactment allows an employee (employed for at least 30 calendar days by employer) to take emergency leave from work for reasons related to COVID-19 The emergency paid leave under §102(a)(1)(F), may consist of unpaid leave for the first 10 days.  Beyond that,...