Litigation against small businesses related to COVID-19 is gaining traction. It’s coming from all angles – employees, customers, vendors, and landlords. It’s likely your business is considering whether to re-open and if you’ve already opened, you need to know best practices to implement to operate safely.
This interactive session will answer all the questions your business has regarding:
• Best practices with employees and customers to reduce the risk of litigation
• How to lawfully and effectively enforce physical distancing, use and provision of PPE (including masks), implementing temperature checks, provision of COVID-19 testing, changes to work schedules/customer traffic, implications of enhanced online presence
• Necessary revisions to written policies and procedures
• Exposure for expanding the footprint of a business to include curbside and delivery – the larger the footprint, the greater the liability risk
• Forgiveness of PPP loans; employment challenges that accompany “trying to spend PPP money”
• Addressing unemployment benefits and maintaining a dedicated staff in the age of unemployment incentivization
• Taking the opportunity to overhaul/rewrite unfavorable contracts (e.g., lease agreements, vendor agreements, employment agreements, and independent contractor agreements)
• Separating “dead weight” employees
• OSHA considerations/violations
• Workers’ compensation implications – will claims and premiums skyrocket?
Matt Anderson, Matt Anderson Law PLLC
Doug Robson, Otro Cafe/Gallo Blanco
