[PLEASE SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE.]
COVID-19: Ongoing Updates for Employers
This page contains updates and information produced by attorneys in Phillips Murrah’s Labor & Employment practice group related to COVID-19. We are posting this information as a service to help employers, owners and managers of businesses and organizations to better understand the new challenges we face as related employment during the corovavirus pandemic.
The information contained in these posts are for informational purposes only, are not intended as legal advice, and do not constitute any attorney-client relationship. If you need legal assistance to help your business handle the challenges related to coronavirus outbreak, please click HERE or call 405-235-4100.
Also, below our coverage, please see our list of helpful links.
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Senate Approves CARES Act: Key Tax Changes
[TAX LAW] The CARES Act, approved by the Senate and set for a Friday House vote, provides both individuals and businesses with robust economic support, including through changes to the federal tax code.
Senate Approves CARES Act: Important SBA Loan Information
[SBA LOANS] The CARES Act, approved by the Senate and set for a Friday House vote, authorizes $349 billion for SBA 7(a) loans. Read important highlights:
What are considered “essential services” in Oklahoma during COVID-19?
Due to the horrible effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has ordered that all businesses not identified as being within a critical infrastructure sector to close. Understandably, the order has a lot of Oklahomans wondering who …
ABLE permits beer and wine sale from licensed restaurants closed to dine-in service due to COVID-19
[LIQUOR LAWS] Many Oklahoma cities have closed restaurants to dine-in service and permit only delivery, take-out or curb-side pickup. ABLE permits beer and wine sales to consumers from licensed restaurants that are closed to dine-in service.
Oklahoma Department of Commerce to host teleconference series on SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
[SBA LOANS] For Oklahoma businesses interested in more information about the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is hosting three teleconferences that will cover the application process.
Cybersecurity during COVID-19 transition to remote work policies
[CYBERSECURITY LAW] For companies, responding to the pandemic means enabling employees to work from home. With this comes the obvious preparation to allow employees access to company information outside of the company’s network. It is incredibly important to recognize that …
Department of Labor Issues Interim Guidance on Recently-Enacted Coronavirus Response Act
[EMPLOYMENT LAW] The U.S. Department of Labor issued its first guidance on the implementation of the recently-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The DOL is expected to issue formal implementation regulations later this week. Some of the important information in …
Senate reaches bipartisan deal on CARES Act
[EMPLOYMENT LAW] The U.S. Senate reportedly reached a bipartisan deal to finalize and pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), a $2 trillion stimulus package seeking to address the widespread economic damage caused by the ongoing …
OTC issues tax notice related to curbside or drive-through sales of packaged beer and wine
[TAX LAW] Oklahoma Tax Commission: Curbside or drive-through packaged beer and wine sales do not constitute mixed beverages that are subject to 13.5% mixed beverage tax.
Court-ordered custody visitation issues during COVID-19 pandemic
[FAMILY LAW] For families dealing with a court-ordered visitation schedule due to divorce, paternity actions, guardianships, or otherwise, there was no clear direction on how they should continue with their current court-ordered visitation schedule that primarily revolved around start and …
State-by-State breakdown of COVID-19 tax relief to taxpayers
[TAX LAW] Over thirty states and municipalities are offering tax relief to taxpayers in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak. Attached is a summary of the various state and local actions as of March 24, 2020 that was prepared by Thompson …
Understanding Paid Sick Leave Tax Credits for Employers
[TAX LAW] The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) includes both the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which provides for paid sick leave, as well as the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, which provides for expanded paid leave. …
DOL seeks public input on Family First Coronavirus Response Act
[EMPLOYMENT LAW] The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) reached out on Monday seeking pubic input on how to implement The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Input in open March 23 through March 29.
Oklahoma Governor Announcement: Healthcare occupational licenses extended during the emergency
[HEALTHCARE LAW] Governor Stitt issued Amended Executive Order 220-7 which provided additional responses to the current pandemic. The Order offers a grace period by providing the following guidance to providers with state licensure issues to all 77 counties and positions.
Potential Legal Recourse for COVID-19 Losses
[BANKRUPTCY & RESTRUCTURING] The continuing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic is causing significant disruption to business operations. Recent restrictions on operations is likely to further cause various businesses to lack the financial capabilities to meet ongoing obligations. Such business …Disaster Loan Info: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs
[THIS ARTICLE IS OUT OF DATE. PLEASE SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE.] By Phillips Murrah attorney Kendra M. Norman SBA Loans The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has several lending programs. A full list of the loan programs offered by …
(UPDATE Mar19) Emergency Coronavirus Response Bill: Employers Must Provide Paid Leave To Employees Impacted by COVID-19
[EMPLOYMENT LAW] On March 18, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law. It applies to all private employers with fewer than 500 employers. Paid sick time will be permitted to employees regardless of tenure, while employees …President Signs Amended Coronavirus Response Act Providing Paid Sick Leave to Eligible Employees
By Lauren Barghols Hanna On March 18, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law. It applies to all private employers with fewer than 500 employers. Paid sick time will be permitted to employees regardless of tenure, …
Can Employers Take an Employee’s Temperature and Other COVID-19 Questions
By Lauren Symcox Voth EEOC Publishes Guidance on Pandemic Preparedness The World Heath Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 an international pandemic and as a result the Federal, Local, and State governments have declared a state of emergency across the country. …
House Sends Amended Coronavirus Response Act to Senate with Significantly Reduced Employee Paid Leave Protections – Vote Expected Today
By Lauren Barghols Hanna Late last evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amended version of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, originally passed by the House on Saturday. Although the amended bill was labeled as “technical corrections,” it …Emergency Coronavirus Response Bill: Employers Must Prepare for Potential Paid Leave Obligations
By Lauren Barghols Hanna As of publication, there are 167,517 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in 135 countries around the world, with the United States currently confirming more than 3,000 cases. On Friday, …Emergency Coronavirus Response Bill: Brief Overview of Employer-Paid Sick Leave Obligations
By Lauren Barghols Hanna As of publication, there are 167,517 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in 135 countries around the world, with the United States currently confirming more than 3,000 cases. On Friday, …
Coronavirus 2020: Current Guidance for US Employers
By Phillips Murrah Attorneys Janet Hendrick and Phoebe Mitchell Around the globe, the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases has risen to over 81,000. Although 95% of these confirmed cases are located in China, the number in the United States has …
HELPFUL LINKS:
- Centers for Desease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19) page
- U.S. Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources page
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidance on pandemic preparedness
- EEOC: “What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19”
- Interim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposures: Geographic Risk and Contacts of Laboratory-confirmed Cases
- 15 Ways to Slow the Spread – coronavirus.gov
