Tips for California employers dealing with COVID-19

The global coronavirus epidemic has changed life as we know it. On March 17, Bay Area counties issued "shelter in place" orders directing residents to stay inside their homes and away from others for three weeks. Two days later, Governor Gavin Newson issued a statewide "stay at home order" that became effective immediately and will remain in effect indefinitely. California's 40 million residents are now required to "stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors."

Employers are facing incredible challenges in maintaining their business operations in light of this lockdown and trying to avoid layoffs. Below are some tips for addressing those issues and state benefits that are available to employees.

Remote work

To abide by the shelter-in-place/stay-at-home orders in effect, countless California businesses are transitioning to a remote workforce. Many employers are purchasing laptops and other equipment to enable staff to work remotely. For some employees, it's the first time they have ever been permitted to work remotely. It's critical to clearly communicate your work expectations, such as the specific times you want staff to be available by e-mail, phone, or videoconferencing.

Nonexempt employees also need to be instructed that they must accurately record when they start and end their scheduled shifts and meal periods. The fact that employees are telecommuting doesn't change your wage and hour obligations.