For the past several weeks, a majority of U.S. workplaces have
been effectively shut down. In response to numerous state and local
"stay home" orders issued in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic, many employers throughout the country have faced dramatic
changes in their workforce. Many employees have been working
remotely, while others have been furloughed or laid off. As the
President and Governors start looking at easing restrictions so
that more businesses may reopen, employers need to be mindful of
legal and practical considerations.
The issue of easing stay-home restrictions is not without
controversy. The daily news cycle is replete with vastly differing
opinions on whether it is too soon to ease restrictions or if
easing restrictions to enable more workplaces to open is the
correct move. Regardless of the state and national implications,
employers need to be mindful that within their own workplaces, they
will likely face similar reactions from their own
