Navigating the coronavirus: Don't forget about FLSA

Unless you are completely unplugged from television or the Internet, you can't go an hour without hearing or reading a news story about COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus. Much of the coverage centers on precautions public and private entities are taking to stem the spread of the virus. For example, Italy has instituted a nationwide lockdown that severely restricts people's ability to travel both abroad and within the country). China has quarantined 11 million residents in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus. Israel is requiring travelers to be quarantined for 14 days upon entering the country. And in the United States, the NBA has suspended its season, the NCAA has canceled March Madness, and MLB has announced that opening day will be delayed.

In the United States, we are also starting to see coronavirus responses that directly address or affect the workplace. For instance, San Francisco has advised people to stay away from large crowds, stay home from work if they are sick, and take other strict precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. At least one county in California has advised employers to suspend nonessential travel for employees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued “interim guidance” for employers in which it recommends that employees experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory illness stay home from work.