COVID-19 and Employee Furloughs: Overall Guidance from U.S. Department of Labor
On March 19, 2020 by Schnader in Client AlertsPlease visit our COVID-19 Resource Center here for additional guidance.
Schnader’s Michael J. Wietrzychowski, co-chair of the Labor and Employment Practices Group, published a new client alert, “COVID-19 and Employee Furloughs: Overall Guidance from U.S. Department of Labor.” It reads in part:
Many employers face difficult decisions about employee furloughs related to actions needed to mitigate COVID-19. Businesses have questions about the rules governing employee furloughs, reduced hours and reduced pay, on-call telecommuting, and related subjects.
In September 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Fact Sheet #70 governing furloughs. These rules provide a good place to start when deciding furlough process and procedure, of course acknowledging that the COVID-19 situation is subject to rapid change given the current legal environment, and may be subject to additional federal laws, and more stringent state and/or local laws.
This Alert summarizes some of the key provisions of Fact Sheet #70: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Furloughs and Other Reductions in Pay and Hours Worked Issues.