Employers considering restricting the movement of workers in any of the affected states should also carefully analyze all legal restrictions on these measures, including Sections 201 to d of New York Labor Law, employer policies, and, for public employers, any constitutional restrictions. Cuomo went on to say he thought Trump`s proposal was a “lockdown” rather than a quarantine, similar to what happened in Wuhan, China, at the beginning of the virus outbreak. Albany — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order Saturday that will close a loophole that blames employers for paying the wages of workers who are in mandatory 14-day quarantine if they left the state for non-essential purposes, including vacation. Although the governor said there would be “random checks” to enforce the quarantine, he did not say how this would be done or whether police would use checkpoints to interrogate travelers. He also pointed out that, while it is unclear how, the state would be able to access routes and monitor people traveling at New York airports. Under this bill, an employee of a private employer is entitled to the following leave if they are subject to a mandatory or preventive government order[1] of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19: Many other governors have imposed similar mandatory quarantines on people visiting or returning to their state, but the New York order imposes heavy civil penalties — up to $10,000 — on anyone who violates the requirement. Other states have issued the “advisory” orders. In addition, employees traveling to other states must comply with quarantine orders that may apply upon arrival in the other state. For example, at the time of this warning, Florida requires travelers from New York to quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry or the duration of the person`s presence in Florida, whichever is shorter.
“It would be chaos and chaos,” Cuomo told CNN`s Ana Cabrera. This is exactly the opposite of everything he said. I do not think that is plausible. Someone who travels to a high-risk state and may visit a few stops or make a stopover at an airport along the way doesn`t have to quarantine themselves when entering New York City. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Cuomo said New York would not implement a “blockade,” but gave no details on how to enforce the quarantine. I think what they did is wrong, it was reactionary. I think it was illegal, but we will clarify it amicably. I`m sure. No state should sue the police to ban travel between states in any way,” Cuomo said.
Employees who travel to one of the affected states for professional or personal reasons and do not meet the standards for one of the above exceptions must meet quarantine requirements. We think about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it`s a hot spot. “We may not have to do it, but it`s possible that at some point today we`ll do a quarantine, in the short term, two weeks in New York. Likely New Jersey, parts of Connecticut, he told reporters as he left the White House for Naval Base Norfolk to send a naval hospital ship to New York. Cuomo noted that the quarantine in three states would significantly affect the economy, telling Cabrera, “I think it would cripple the economy.” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed into law (S.4201-A/A.4063) prohibiting public employers from punishing employees who use sick leave or compensatory allowance for quarantine, medical treatment, or other absences related to a COVID-19 diagnosis or contact. This Act also expands, with immediate effect, the definitions of disability and family leave under the state`s Short-Term Disability and Paid Family Leave (PFL) Act to provide benefits to individuals who are unable to work due to a mandatory or preventive quarantine or isolation order from the government due to covid-19 and who are not receiving paid sick leave (described above). Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt of R-Niagara County called Cuomo`s quarantine order “draconian.” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said the administration was considering various legal options for the mechanism.
If possible, employers should consider requiring telework during the quarantine period. Particular attention should be paid to issues of remuneration and hours during such a period of telework. There`s no timeline for mandatory quarantine in New York City, and Cuomo imposed it at a time when tens of thousands of people are starting to go on summer vacations, including places like the Carolinas and Florida. This bill only provides for leave if an employee is subject to a government quarantine or isolation order. In its current form, the law does not provide for leave if an employer has voluntarily closed a job or if an employee is unable to register for work due to the closure of a school. The New York State Board of Affairs, which was investigating the consequences of the problem and had received questions from its members about the quarantine order, said it was appropriate for the governor to address the shortage. If telework is not possible, employers should carefully consider whether the employee has the right to leave during the quarantine period. Governor Cuomo issued a subsequent executive order (No.
202.45) stating that an employee who personally travels to one of the states affected by the post-travel quarantine is not eligible for leave or benefits under New York State`s COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Act. However, in certain circumstances, leave may be offered under the Federal Paid Sick Leave Act and/or the Employer Guidelines. Our previous warning about COVID-19 holiday laws can be found here. On March 28, Cuomo criticized Rhode Island for setting up border checkpoints and stopping vehicles with New York license plates to question drivers about their travel plans and remind them of quarantine if necessary. Trump says he is considering a short-term quarantine of parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical professional by profession, defended Trump`s proposal to quarantine states in an interview with CNN`s Wolf Blitzer. Trump`s announcement came just hours after he said last Saturday that he was considering a short-term quarantine of “hot spots” in parts of the three-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, where coronavirus cases continue to rise.