COVID-19 and Workplace Liability
As companies reopen, a primary concern is liability for workers or customers who may claim to have been exposed to COVID-19 in their business. This may arise as a workers’ compensation claim, a claim for negligent sanitation or failure to implement or enforce social distancing measures. Legislatures at both the state and federal level are addressing this concern in multiple ways. Any Phase 4 COVID-19 federal relief package is likely to contain some limitation of liability for businesses and schools. In contrast, states such as California and Illinois have taken steps to declare that essential workers who become ill with the virus will be presumed to have been exposed on the job and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation. This issue is quickly-evolving and may continue to change during the pandemic.
A quarterly newsletter of legal news for the clients and friends of Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.
COVID-19 and Workplace Liability
As companies reopen, a primary concern is liability for workers or customers who may claim to have been exposed to COVID-19 in their business. This may arise as a workers’ compensation claim, a claim for negligent sanitation or failure to implement or enforce social distancing measures. Legislatures at both the state and federal level are addressing this concern in multiple ways. Any Phase 4 COVID-19 federal relief package is likely to contain some limitation of liability for businesses and schools. In contrast, states such as California and Illinois have taken steps to declare that essential workers who become ill with the virus will be presumed to have been exposed on the job and therefore eligible for workers’ compensation. This issue is quickly-evolving and may continue to change during the pandemic.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.