A COVID-19 Workplace Rights Update

Good afternoon, and welcome to Legal Tip Tuesday. Vince Quatrini with you today, in a different background – I’m at home! Complying with the governor’s order, this is my home office so welcome in! You’re listening in the background to my favorite pianist George Winston. Today I wanted to share with you some of the ramifications of the new stimulus act that was passed and how it affects your legal rights, especially in the workplace. Paid sick leave is covered by the new act, up to 80 hours. FMLA coverage, Family Medical Leave Act, is expanded as well as the paid sick leave requirements. If you are at home because you have to care for someone because of COVID, or you’re at home because the kids are out of school, you may be entitled to FMLA coverage for that circumstance, and/or paid sick leave. Also, short-term disability, long-term disability: your company may have a policy like that. If you or someone you know is medically unable to work because of COVID 19, you can be covered by your short-term or long-term coverage. Of course, workers’ compensation. If you’ve acquired COVID in the workplace, you are entitled to coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act of Pennsylvania.

Our challenge will be to prove the connection, but that’s what we do here – every day, all day. There’s another aspect—the Americans with Disabilities Act—that may come into play because you’ve been discriminated against or unfairly treated because you have a COVID-19 diagnosis. These are just some of the highlights of the new act. Unemployment compensation has been expanded. It includes a greater benefit and will extended up to 39 weeks from 26 weeks.

Follow our emails and our marketing that we’re doing. We’re trying to inform the public as best that we can, because we’re here 24/7 by the way. We’re working remotely, you can reach us at our regular number, you can email us, you can text us. We’re here to help you. That’s what we do, that’s what we want to do, in a pandemic crisis like this. So, as the governor has said to us, stay home, stay calm, and stay safe. Until next Tuesday when we talk about things to do while you’re confined during this time, this is Vince Quatrini for Legal Tip Tuesday.