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Areas of Interest
September 8th, 2021
Employers Must Implement NY HERO Act Safety Plans Now
On May 6, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed the Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”) into law as a response to COVID-19 safety concerns as New Yorkers return to in-person work. Notably, the HERO Act required all covered New York employers to establish written safety plans complying with certain minimum standards, and to implement those plans if the New York State Commissioner of Health designates an airborne infectious disease. On September 6, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease under the HERO Act. This designation requires all employers to implement workplace safety plans that are in compliance with HERO Act standards.
Employers who fail to adopt a plan will be subject to a penalty of $50 per day until a plan is implemented, and employers who fail to comply with their adopted plans face fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.The HERO Act also provides employees with a private right of action, including the ability to seek injunctive relief, against their employer. Courts may award up to $20,000 in liquidated damages and attorneys’ fees to a prevailing plaintiff.
If you have questions about how to comply with the New York HERO Act, please contact, Wendy Stryker at (212) 705-4838 or wstryker@fkks.com, Tricia Legittino at (310) 579-9632 or tlegittino@fkks.com, or any other member of the Frankfurt Kurnit Employment Compliance, Training & Litigation Group.
Other Employment Law Alerts
The Fast and the Furious: Four Major Developments in COVID-19 and Return-to-Work Protocols
In case you blinked, we covered four major developments that came out in the past week that every employer needs to know as they reopen their offices. Read more.
June 16 2021
Vac to Work: EEOC Provides New Guidance on Vaccine Requirements, Incentives, and Documentation Requests
On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its ongoing guidance on COVID-related labor and employment rules, “What You Should Know about COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.” The updates provide crucial information for employers working through their return-to-work plans. Read more.
June 4 2021
New York HERO Act Imposes New Health and Safety Rules on Employers
On May 6, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed the Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”) into law as a response to COVID-19 safety concerns in connection with New Yorkers returning to in-person work. Read more.
May 7 2021
