Key Employment Laws Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic
Key Employment Laws Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic
Key Employment Laws Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic
By Jean Murray
May 21, 2020
Summary
Occupational Safety and Health Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to keep their workplaces safe for workers in several areas of employee health and safety. OSHA regulations apply to all businesses with even just one employee.
Family and Medical Leave Act and Sick Leave Benefits During Coronavirus
The Family and Medical Leave Act requires larger employers to give up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave. The leave must be used for the employee’s serious health condition, for the birth of a child, to care for an immediate family member or parent with a serious health condition, or to provide care if a family member must report for active military duty.
Employers are not required to pay employees who are on an FMLA-approved leave , but they must continue the employee’s group health coverage and the employee must continue to pay their share of premiums.
COBRA Insurance for Continued Health Benefits
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1974 gives employees the option to continue health benefits with the company when they are laid off or terminated.
ERISA Health and Pension Benefits
ERISA is the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act .
If You Need to Change or Cut Your Health Plan
Employers offer health benefits on a voluntary basis and federal law doesn’t prevent employers from cutting or reducing benefits. If you need to change the health plan you offer employees as a result of your business being impacted by COVID-19, you must give employees advance notice and give them information about COBRA coverage if they qualify. Check with your plan administrator to see if there are restrictions on making plan changes.
USERRA Benefits for Service Members
If a service member returns from active duty, you don’t have to rehire the person if they would have been laid off or their job was no longer available.
The Bottom Line
Throughout COVID-19, many employment laws have been affected and changed to help both employers and employees safely weather the pandemic.
Reference
Murray, J. (2020, May 21). How the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Affected Key Employment Laws. Retrieved May 22, 2020, from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/key-employment-laws-affected-by-the-coronavirus-pandemic-4845688