Family First Coronavirus Response Act Challenged in New York State
Date: August 7, 2020
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Jaime serves as the head of the firm's Litigation and Labor & Employment Groups, with a practice including commercial and construction litigation, defense of product liability and toxic tort claims, insurance defense and coverage analysis. Her clients include corporations, insurance companies, title agencies, municipalities, professional and recreational associations, school districts, private developers, and regional contractors and subcontractors.
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On August 3, 2020, published August 6, 2020, a judge writing for the Southern District of New York in the case captioned above “upended” certain provisions of the United States Department of Labor’s final Rule implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). While this ruling is currently only binding in the Southern District of New York and of persuasive legal authority in the Second Circuit (Pennsylvania is the Third Circuit), the United States Department of Labor is within the appeals period. There is no indication yet what the DOL will do. The DOL’s options are to appeal the ruling, seek a stay of the implementation of the ruling, withdraw its final Rule that was the subject of the lawsuit, or issue new interim guidance or rules. It is more likely than not that, if the DOL does not appeal this ruling, many states, including Pennsylvania, may file similar challenges.
In its Opinion, the Court ruled more toward or in favor of the employee that certain portions of the U.S. Department of Labor’s final Rule were too restrictive as follows:
We will remain aware of any and all development of this case and will continue to update our clients accordingly. For more specific questions regarding how this ruling may affect you, please contact Jaime Doherty directly. For more information and updates related to the pandemic, please visit the COVID-19 page of our website by clicking here.
In its Opinion, the Court ruled more toward or in favor of the employee that certain portions of the U.S. Department of Labor’s final Rule were too restrictive as follows:
1. Furloughed employees or other employees for whom work, including telework, is not available can now, under the Court’s ruling, qualify and be paid for leave under the FFCRA where they meet one of the six bases for leave. Under the DOL’s final Rule, a furloughed employee or employee for whom work, including telework, was not available was not entitled to the leave.
2. The definition of “healthcare provider” was scaled back to include a healthcare “professional” only. Previously, the DOL final rule applied more broadly, exempting all employees of a healthcare organization from responsibility under the FFCRA.
3. An employee requesting FFCRA leave is now permitted to request intermittent leave from the employer under this Court’s ruling where the leave requested will not contribute to the spread of infection. (In other words, leave requested as in the case to care for a child whose daycare or school is closed for CoVID-19 related reasons).
4. Finally, the Court ruled that the documentation requirements with which an employee is expected to comply under the DOL’s final Rule were too detailed, going beyond the legal reach of the statute.
2. The definition of “healthcare provider” was scaled back to include a healthcare “professional” only. Previously, the DOL final rule applied more broadly, exempting all employees of a healthcare organization from responsibility under the FFCRA.
3. An employee requesting FFCRA leave is now permitted to request intermittent leave from the employer under this Court’s ruling where the leave requested will not contribute to the spread of infection. (In other words, leave requested as in the case to care for a child whose daycare or school is closed for CoVID-19 related reasons).
4. Finally, the Court ruled that the documentation requirements with which an employee is expected to comply under the DOL’s final Rule were too detailed, going beyond the legal reach of the statute.
We will remain aware of any and all development of this case and will continue to update our clients accordingly. For more specific questions regarding how this ruling may affect you, please contact Jaime Doherty directly. For more information and updates related to the pandemic, please visit the COVID-19 page of our website by clicking here.
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