Articles and Blogs

Under the recent Wisconsin COVID-19 relief law, 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 (effective April 17, 2020) (the “ Relief Act”), and pursuant to the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), temporary emergency unemployment benefits have been made available to claimants and employers in Wisconsin. The Relief Act accomplishes a number... READ MORE

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (“DWD”) recently published an announcement setting out when claimants can expect to receive various types of enhanced pandemic-related unemployment benefits made available under the federal CARES Act. The DWD also used the announcement as an opportunity to remind applicants that the DWD will initiate collection proceedings and potentially pursue... READ MORE

As we discussed here, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently conducted a webinar regarding employment practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. During the webinar, the EEOC analyzed 22 employment-related questions. In the previous article, we addressed the first 11 questions of the webinar. We will now cover the last 11 questions for your review.... READ MORE

On Friday, April 17, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated and expanded its technical assistance publication addressing questions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and federal equal employment opportunity laws. The publication expanded on prior guidance by adding questions and answers to anticipated return to work scenarios, reasonable accommodation situations and harassment. The... READ MORE

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently conducted a webinar regarding employment practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The EEOC stressed that all equal employment opportunity laws still have to be followed and that the laws enforced by the EEOC don’t interfere with guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) or... READ MORE

On April 13, 2020, OSHA issued instructions and guidance to Area Offices for handling COVID-19-related complaints, referrals and severe illness reports (“Plan”). The Plan’s objective is to ensure safe conditions for workers while also taking measures to protect its own personnel. The Plan sets forth interim procedures that allow flexibility and discretion for its... READ MORE

On April 13, 2020 the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition (“FTC”) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) (hereinafter the “FTC” and “DOJ” may be jointly referred to as the “Agencies”) announced they would be “on alert” for violations of the federal antitrust laws aimed at exploiting the COVID-19... READ MORE

On April 9, 2020, the EEOC issued new technical assistance FAQ responses.  Background EEOC states that EEO laws do not prevent employers from following guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities. As previously mentioned in Hall Render postings, the EEOC has provided prior guidance entitled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and... READ MORE

Just as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) went into effect on April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued its “Temporary Rule: Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (“Temporary Rule.”) This Temporary Rule was published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 6, 2020, and provides some... READ MORE

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (“the Act”).  The Act is intended to provide a multifaceted economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the various other provisions in the Act, section 4003 of the Act specifically contains several Federal Reserve lending provisions... READ MORE