Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This topic provides the latest news articles and resources related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Check back here to keep informed.

flu

What to Consider Before Encouraging or Requiring Flu Shots

Fall is here and many employers are getting anxious about flu season. With COVID-19 still unchecked, they could soon find themselves in the position of battling staffing challenges and employee health issues from two dueling infections.

office

Home Office Support Top of Mind During COVID-19

While some companies had work-from-home (WFH) practices in place long before COVID-19 emerged, many did not. Many had to scramble to get employees into remote settings, except for those who have been classified as essential workers.

COVID-19

Travel Policies, Payroll, and Leave—COVID-19 Questions That Just Won’t Go Away

During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about when employees may or may not travel, how to assess temperature checks at the front door, and a wide array of other issues have continued to crop up. Whenever an employer feels like it’s gotten its arms around the appropriate answers, circumstances change, with states opening and closing, infection […]

COVID-19

Helpful Summary of EEOC’s New COVID-19 Guidance

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released updated guidance for both employers and employees addressing common questions related to COVID-19 and the federal employment laws. The update pulled together information from other agency resources, modified two existing questions and answers, and added 18 new ones. Read on to learn the key takeaways for employers […]

COVID19

Managing Mental Health During Trying Times

The Internet and social media are full of memes, statuses, personal stories, and other commentary lamenting and marveling at the craziness of 2020. Many of these point out that we’re not even done with this chaotic year!

CDC Issues Guidance on Isolation, Precautions for COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued new guidance titled “Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19.” The guidance is noteworthy for employers. Previously, the CDC had generally indicated that individuals could potentially return to work following a positive test after spending 14 days in isolation and being fever-free […]

HR Works COVID-19 Update: Supporting Employees with Headaches and Migraines

In the last episode of HR Works COVID-19 Update, I was joined by neurologist and headache expert Charisse Litchman, MD, to discuss how the pandemic has led to increased screen times and, consequently, increased headaches. Today, we’ll continue our discussion with Litchman, including how HR can help employees prevent headaches and support them in finding […]

remote

New Tips for Tracking Hours While Employees Telework

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently published guidance addressing employer obligations to track employee hours while teleworking. Even though the guidance is being issued in part because of the increase in teleworking arrangements during the COVID-19 crisis, the agency emphasized it applies to all telework or remote work arrangements, not just […]

Return

HR Considerations for Bringing Employees Back to the Workplace

When the COVID-19 virus started making headlines at the start of 2020, American observers watched as the disease spread beyond the borders of China and started impacting specific regions of the United States. As the numbers of domestic infections continued to grow, some organizations started talking about closing their offices and asking staff to work […]

payroll

Payroll Tax Deferrals—What Should Employers Do?

Earlier this summer, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of certain payroll taxes beginning September 1 through the end of 2020. The order left several important questions open and directed the Treasury to issue guidance to implement the order.