News & Publications

Requirements for employers and what employers should do now 

§ i6VAC25-220

By Samantha Stecker Otero

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On July 15, 2020, Virginia became the first state in the country to adopt an Emergency Standard for COVID-Related Workplace Safety, which applies to all employers in the Commonwealth.  In essence, the regulations require employers to analyze their worksites and the tasks that each employee performs, in order to effectively categorize the COVID-related risks inherent in those workplaces and/or tasks.

Once the categorization of risk is made, employers will then be required to abide by various requirements for each level of risk. The Emergency Standard is in effect, however the requirements regarding training and implementation of infectious disease plans (for employers in the “very high”, “high” and “medium” risk categories) will not become effective for 30-60 days. Additional guidance will be forthcoming from DOLI.

Virginia employers will need to comply with the Emergency Standard or potentially face

Summary of Impact on Current Visa Holders from Proclamation 10014 “Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak”  Effective June 24, 2020.  Processing of applications will continue in the US for ALL visa categories, including permanent residence.

The White House has issued another Proclamation “Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak” effective June 24, 2020 and remains in effect through December 31, 2020.  The Proclamation has far less of an impact than was rumored in advance of the Proclamation. 

McCandlish Holton is very proud to announce that today marks the beginning of Jennifer Minear’s tenure as president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. AILA is the largest association of immigration attorneys in the world with over 15,000 members worldwide.

WORKERS COMPENSATION CASE WATCH

In Loudoun County v. Richardson, the claimant injured his hip in a work accident.  The claimant’s treating physician performed a hip replacement surgery and then gave the claimant an 11% rating for loss of use.  Later, the treating physician was asked to calculate the claimant’s level of impairment before the hip replacement surgery, which the doctor determined was 74%.

Summary of 4/22/20 White House Proclamation Regarding Immigration

The White House has issued “Proclamation 10014” suspending travel to the US by individuals who will seek entry to the United States using an “immigrant visa” (a visa issued to individuals entering the US to become permanent residents).

[UPDATE: Proclamation 10014 is revoked 2/24/2021.]

SPECIAL EDITION | Coronavirus & Comp Updates

• • • The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have caused many changes in how we work in Virginia.  Office workers and teachers are some of the many types of employees who have transitioned to working remotely because of Governor Northam’s Executive Orders closing schools and encouraging telework. With a large part of the workforce working remotely and/or from home, there are several issues for employers and carriers to consider.  

Workers’ Compensation Concerns

Arising Out Of

Added risks in the employee’s home workspace are likely to be “conditions of the work place” meeting the arising out of element of a workers’ compensation claim. 

Three Case Examples:

SPECIAL EDITION | Coronavirus & Comp Updates

• • • Compensability and Burden of Proof

A nursing home employee or in-home health care professionals can prove a compensable coronavirus claim, by showing that their coronavirus diagnosis:

1. arose out of and in the course of the employment;

2. did not come from causes outside of work; and, 

3. that coronavirus is an infectious or contagious disease contracted in the course of employment in a nursing home or in the direct delivery of healthcare.

The second and third elements will likely be the most difficult to prove.  

Nursing Homes are at the Highest Risk of Being Affected

However, as COVID-19 spreads in the United States, confirmed cases in nursing homes and long-term care facilities have continued to rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has indicated that nursing homes are at the highest risk of being

COVID-19 EDITION | Coronavirus & Comp Updates

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC) is responsible for carrying out the requirements of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, while administering Virginia's workers’ compensation program, meeting legal requirements and providing various protections.

Also included are relevant updates from other organizations, such as the WCIO.  

We will continually update this article as announcements are made. Scroll to the list of  links to each Order with summaries appearing below.

SELECTED APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED FOR FURTHER PROCESSING

The US CIS has completed the selection process for H1B pre-registrations.  Cases selected for processing will be notified, and will have 90 days to prepare and submit H1B petitions.  We will notify clients of updates as soon as we receive them. 

The following is the notification from the US CIS:

USCIS has received enough electronic registrations during the initial period to reach the FY 2021 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap). We randomly selected from among the

H.R. 6201

By Samantha Stecker Otero

Congress recently passed, and the President signed, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”).  The FFCRA provides assistance to workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two aspects of the FFCRA directly applicable to employers:

1. mandatory paid sick leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (“Paid Sick Leave Act”) and,

2. expansion of medical leave under the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (“Emergency FMLA”). 

The Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency FMLA become effective April 1, 2020 and last until December 31, 2020.

Employers and Employees Covered

The Emergency FMLA and Paid Sick Leave Act apply only to private employers with fewer