UPDATED ON APRIL 16: Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered “New York on PAUSE” extended to May 15, 2020. The Executive Order requires all workers at non-essential businesses, including nonprofit organizations, to work from home, schools to remain closed, and individuals to maintain a 6-foot distance from others in public, as per an Executive Order.
The Governor also directed that, effective at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020 any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering, must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in public and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance. This includes but is not limited to, when walking on the sidewalk or in a park, traveling on public transit or in an Uber, Lyft, Via, etc.
Effective Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 8 p.m., all “non-essential” businesses and nonprofit organizations in New York State were directed to have their workers work from home and everyone was directed to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another in public, due to the pandemic of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus,[1] as per an Executive Order from Governor Andrew Cuomo. Additionally, all non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason were banned.
On Sunday, March 29th, Governor Cuomo extended all school and non-essential business closures to April 15th. On April 6th, Governor Cuomo further extended the “PAUSE” Order to April 29th, 2020. The Governor also increased the fine for violating social distancing rules from $500 to $1000.
Further, Governor Cuomo has approved an additional $600 per week in New York State unemployment insurance benefits to be paid, and has extended the unemployment insurance benefits period from 26 weeks to 39 weeks. As noted previously, New York State is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for those unemployed due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines. New York employers must provide terminated employees with a Record of Employment form to provide to the New York State Department of Labor when they file for unemployment insurance benefits. Typically, employers provide a completed Record of Employment form to separated employees together with the letter of termination. New York employers have to provide a letter of termination, stating the date of termination and date that benefits will terminate, within 5 working days of an employee’s separation.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa M. Brauner, Esq., Head of Employment Law Practice, Perlman & Perlman LLP, lisa@perlmanandperlman.com, 212-889-0575 ext. 207.
