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As more and more states start the process of reopening for business, both employers and lawmakers are concerned about a potential wave of lawsuits brought by employees related to the current public health emergency.  If the U.S. Senate approves another coronavirus aid package, some senators are even considering requiring it to include some form of liability protection for employers.

McAfee & Taft attorney Philip Bruce was one of four employment lawyers nationwide interviewed by HRLaws for an article titled “Liability on the minds of employers, lawmakers as businesses reopen” about a myriad of liability issues that employers potentially could encounter.  Not only could employers face liability if they are investigated by OSHA for failing to take the necessary steps to protect their employees from harm, but many other employment laws are also in play.  These include the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, he said.

“Employers should be vigilant about putting in the right policies and practices as they make decisions and make sure they try to follow those policies and practices as objectively as possible,” Bruce says.