The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor today issued a series of corrections to the previously published rules for implementing and governing the FFCRA.  They can be found HERE.

While a large portion of the changes are structural only, one change of importance is the removal of Section 826.70 (f) which as previously written would have prevented an employer from requiring the use of any accrued leave to be used during the 10-week paid period of EFMLA. 

The Goodman McGuffey Employment team will continue to keep everyone updated on the changes in application of the various COVID-19 laws including Cares and FFCRA. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, which can be done by filling out the contact us form located under the Contact tab on our website. If your inquiry is urgent, please contact any of our offices directly.

Stay well and stay safe!

The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation issued the following order regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access more information by visiting the GA State Board’s website HERE.

NOTICE REGARDING HEARINGS AND MEDIATIONS:

The State Board of Workers’ Compensation continues to be open for business.  However, the Board is actively monitoring developments regarding COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus.  The safety and well-being of our staff and visitors are of utmost concern.

In accordance with state guidelines concerning limiting COVID-19 exposure, workers’ compensation hearings scheduled for the period Monday, March 16, 2020 through Wednesday, May 13, 2020, are being postponed.  Parties will be sent a reset notice.

The Board will continue to handle settlements, Petitions for Medical Treatment (PMTs), motions, conference calls and any emergency situation. 

We apologize for any inconvenience and will work with everyone to accommodate any special circumstances.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the assigned judge’s office or call 770-531-5625.

ADR: In accordance with state guidelines concerning limiting COVID-19 exposure, for the weeks of March 16-May 13, 2020, in-person mediations at all locations are suspended. We will reset these mediations as quickly as possible.

• For parties wishing to proceed with mediations during this period of suspension, temporarily mediations can be conducted by telephone. Contact ADR for specific instructions for telephone mediation.
• For “special set” mediations, contact the mediator directly to arrange telephone mediation or to reset your mediation. 
• For questions or concerns regarding mediations or to request a specific reset date and time, please call 404-656-2939.

We will continue to monitor this situation in accordance with state and federal guidelines and will post updates on the Board’s website.  Thank you and be safe and stay well.

Our team here at Goodman McGuffey is continuously monitoring the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of our clients and employees. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, which can be done by filling out the contact us form located under the Contact tab on our website. If your inquiry is urgent, please contact any of our offices directly.

Stay well and stay safe!

Goodman McGuffey Partner, Robert Luskin, presented today as a part of the DRI and Law Practice Management Committee panel during the Strategies for Managing Through the Pandemic Webinar. The panel discussed pressing issues law firms are currently facing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Robert spoke on “Firm Survival Modes and Layoffs” and is eager to answer any questions you may have.

We strive to provide our clients with steady and undisturbed legal services, communication, and trust throughout the ever-changing situation with COVID-19. We are continuously monitoring the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of our clients and employees.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, which can be done by filling out the contact us form located under the Contact tab on our website. If your inquiry is urgent, please contact any of our offices directly.

Stay well and stay safe!

With most restaurants, businesses, and citizens being limited by lockdown and stay-put orders due to COVID-19, our healthcare workers can use all the support we have to give during these everchanging times.

Goodman McGuffey attorney Matt Matovich, working out of our Savannah, GA office, has been volunteering at his church alongside his wife Holly, by helping local restaurants and delivering “to-go” boxed lunches to healthcare workers. As of now, they have delivered a total of 325 boxed lunches to medical staff at several hospitals including Hilton Head Hospital and Memorial Health University Medical Center, as well as 2 nursing homes around the Hilton Head/Savannah area. Holly Matovich is a nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center and assisted with the delivery arrangements since the hospital is currently on a lock down.

Victims of COVID-19 are not the only people being affected, it is more important than ever to support and remember our healthcare workers working on the front lines of COVID-19. From everyone at Goodman McGuffey, we want to thank the entire healthcare workforce, as they are the true heroes.

Stay safe and stay well.

The Regulations for Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA are now published in the federal register and can be found HERE. While these are the current regulations, the DOL will still continuously be updating the Q&A section on their site so make sure to stay tuned for those upcoming updates. You can find answers to questions on various labor topics by visiting the Department of Labor Q&A page, which can be found HERE.

Our team at Goodman McGuffey will try our best to keep our website updated for everyone as these changes occur. 

Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Stay safe and stay well.

Our team here at Goodman McGuffey has come together in this difficult time, moved quickly, and hasn’t skipped a beat in order to ensure the safety and stability of our employees, clients, and cases amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

First, we need to thank our essential employees in our own organization who brave coming to work to keep the essential functions of the firm running.  They know who they are.  They are the employees who are getting mail, scanning documents, depositing checks, etc.  They are the real heroes in this organization who deserve to be recognized and to them we say THANK YOU!

Pictured are some of our employees with their new home offices and various “helpers” for the time being. We know working from home will have to become the new normal for most folks throughout this process, so here are some tips we have found helpful to stay on track:

1. Communication – Continue to stay in communication with your boss, clients, co-workers, etc. to avoid feeling unstructured and isolated.
2. Consistent Routine – Don’t stray from your normal routine as if you were going into the office. Wake up, get ready, and continue your day as normal as possible.
3. Productive Home Office Space – A well-equipped home office space is critical to being able to successfully work remotely. Finding a space with limited distractions and creating boundaries between home and “the office” will increase productivity and make concentration easier.
4. Positivity – Times are tough, and things are stressful, but keeping a positive mindset and positive spirit throughout this crisis will make for a much more bearable experience. This will keep up morale and a sense of normalcy. We will all get through this together.

Amidst of all the uncertainty, Goodman McGuffey is still available and understands the need to provide our clients with steady and undisturbed legal services, communication, and trust throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. We have always stayed abreast of the latest technology which provides us the ability to support our clients throughout this critical time.

We are keeping a close eye out for any upcoming announcements from the Supreme Court on possible statewide court closures or limitations.

We are continuously monitoring the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff and clients across all offices and states.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Stay safe and stay well.

Goodman McGuffey partner, Wade McGuffey, was a presenter for a webinar addressing the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the workers’ compensation issues both employers and employees are facing throughout this current crisis.

A predominant question lingering over everyone’s heads, “If an employee contracts COVID-19 are they covered by workers’ comp?”, is just one of several concerns resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our workers’ compensation team at Goodman McGuffey is available for any questions or concerns you may have regarding COVID-19. We strive to provide our clients with steady and undisturbed legal services, communication, and trust throughout the ever-changing situation with COVID-19.

We are continuously monitoring the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of our clients and employees. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, which can be done by filling out the contact us form located under the Contact tab on our website. If your inquiry is urgent, please contact any of our offices directly.

Stay well and stay safe!

Featured In This Article:

C. Wade McGuffey, Jr.

Founding Partner

Atlanta Office, Orlando Office

Goodman McGuffey Partner, Robert Luskin, will be speaking during the complimentary Webinar sponsored by the IADC Employment Law Committee on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 for one hour beginning at 12:00 – 1:00 PM. This webinar is a labor and employment discussion regarding COVID-19 and will cover any groundbreaking laws as a result of this pandemic. This Webinar is the second in a series of complimentary Webinars the IADC will be presenting covering different aspects and effects of COVID-19 for our IADC members and clients within the upcoming weeks.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) is extensive, new, U.S. legislation designed to deal with the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on your business, the workplace, and employment decisions. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued guidance in the form of a Fact Sheet for Employees, Fact Sheet for Employers, FFCRA FAQs, and FFCRA Poster Notice FAQs. Further impacting employers is CARES, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act.  Join us as we discuss the FFCRA, family leave, paid sick leave, and the economic stimulus package addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further information and registration for this webinar can be found at https://www.iadclaw.org/events/a-pointed-labor-and-employment-discussion-regarding-covid-19-and-ground-breaking-laws/ .

Goodman McGuffey will be participating in the 2020 Lunch and Learn in the Garden CEU event at the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Gardens, which was originally scheduled for April 17th, and has now been postponed until further notice due to the growing concerns with COVID-19. This event offers attendees two CEU’s, lunch, and free parking.

Goodman McGuffey partner, Teri Zarrillo, will be moderating and associates Jonathan Anderson and Tina Lute, will be speaking as well. Be on the lookout for an upcoming future date announcement and registration link with more details.

Stay well and stay safe!

Featured In This Article:

Teri Alpert Zarrillo

Managing Partner

Atlanta Office

Jonathan C. Anderson

Partner

Atlanta Office

Attorney Teri Zarrillo will be presenting at this year’s State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Mediation Seminar, which was originally scheduled to occur on Wednesday, March 18th, and has now been rescheduled to Friday, September 11. Teri’s presentation, “Ethics In Mediation”, is a part of the ADR in The Workers’ Compensation Arena program offering 6 CLE Hours to attendees. This seminar includes 1 Ethics hour, 1 Professionalism hour, and 5 Trial Practice hours. Registration is available through the ICLE GA Courses website. If you are interested in registering or want more information: Click HERE

Featured In This Article:

Teri Alpert Zarrillo

Managing Partner

Atlanta Office