The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board formally adopted the Temporary Safety Standards and they are effective immediately. They expire at the end of the year unless repealed earlier or extended. The final version of… Read more
Recent Posts
Virginia Adopts COVID-19 Workplace Safety Standards (Coronavirus and the Law)
UPDATE July 21, 2020: The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board has formally adopted the Temporary Safety Standards. The Board stated these standards “will take immediate effect” some time “during the week of July 27,… Read more
Life happens at work. Are your employees discussing the George Floyd tragedy?
Originally published as a Roanoke Times Opinion Letter. The killing of George Floyd changed our nation overnight. The killing and subsequent protests coalesced with COVID-19 and the highest rate of unemployment since the Great Depression… Read more
Virginia’s New Workplace Laws: Prepare Now or Risk Lawsuits Later
Virginia passed some of the nation’s strongest worker protection laws in April and most will be effective July 1, 2020. Certain employment claims can proceed in Virginia’s courts for the first time, so expect more… Read more
Cafeteria Plan Relief in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus and the Law)
On May 12, 2020, the IRS issued optional relief for participants in cafeteria plans, health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans, and Dependent Care Assistance FSA plans. Less than two weeks ago, the IRS and the… Read more
How to Reopen Your Business in 12 Steps (Coronavirus and the Law)
We’re several months into the COVID-19 pandemic and demand is mounting to reopen workplaces. No modern employer has faced quite this situation, so you’re not alone. Rates of infection, hospitalization, and deaths vary from place… Read more
COVID-19 Employment Lawsuits Are Already Brewing (Coronavirus and the Law)
Employers across the country already are being sued by current and former employees as a result of COVID-19. These lawsuits come from many angles including paid leave requirements, disability accommodations, and concerns over workplace safety…. Read more
CDC and OSHA Interim Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers A Roadmap For All Industries
The CDC and OSHA released a COVID-19 related interim guidance for meatpacking and meat processing workers on April 26, 2020. While industry-specific in some details, it is an excellent guide for any facility particularly one… Read more
COVID-19 and Virginia Workers’ Compensation (Coronavirus and the Law)
Presently, there is no case law in Virginia that specifically addresses pandemic viruses as occupational diseases and workers’ compensation benefits. However, by definition pandemics are a widespread contagion. Therefore, it is likely that COVID-19 claims… Read more
Virginia Values Act Provides New Protections for LGBT Residents and Workers
The 2020 Virginia General Assembly session ushered in a new era for labor and employment law in the Commonwealth. On April 11, 2020, Governor Northam signed the Virginia Values Act (S.B. 868) into law, creating… Read more