Covid Lawsuits and Claims Against Employers Increasing Nationwide
Watch out! Among everything else employers are facing during this pandemic to stay afloat, you can add liability lawsuits to the list.
“Did you know that, “As of mid-June, more than 230 lawsuits directly related to labor and employment violations have been filed (including 30 class action suits). California leads the nation with 32 employment lawsuits already filed.” – Littler
As businesses are struggling to stay open and operational, the workplace liability lawsuits are piling up in the courts nationwide. It’s imperative for employers to stay up to date with federal, state, and local regulations during the pandemic to make sure they have an understanding of their employee’s rights.
There various types of lawsuits currently being filed against employers, but we wanted to inform all of you of the top 3 being seen across the nation.
Top 3 Types of COVID Lawsuits Against Employers:
1. Paid Leave Claims – Employers are seeing a rise in claims from employees alleging they were denied leave they were entitled to by way of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Employers need to makes sure their leave programs coordinate with these new regulations.
2. Discrimination Claims – Americans with Disabilities Act, which governs what medical information employers can seek from employees. With that said, laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, pregnancy, and other bases are areas employers should be careful. Particularly where employers are beginning to return their employees to the workforce, they should be mindful of potential legal “pitfalls” even where they believe they are acting in an employee’s best interests.
3. RIFS and Downsizing Claims – Employers that have been forced to downsize their workforces should be mindful of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Under the WARN Act, employers may be required to provide 60 days’ notice to workers when they are laid off for an extended period, or when the employer closes its business. It is unclear as to what exemptions they may have when related to Covid-19.
We know that some of you may have HR questions relating to complying with Covid workplace regulations, so we wanted to present a resource for our CPA MOMS community.
We have partnered nationally with ADP who is a trusted advisor in the HR/Payroll industry and it’s their priority to ensure you have the proper tools and expertise necessary to safely re-open and maintain your business. Our national rep, Rachel, is helping clients cut costs and gain access to more hands-on support during this tumultuous time.
If you are interested in setting up a free consultation or getting more information, please fill out the contact form and she will get in touch you as soon as possible: CPA MOMS ADP Contact Form
Sources:
https://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/covid-19-lawsuits-and-claims-increasing-courts-nationwide