The below update is from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

Updated: CISA’s Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers

Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) updated their Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response.  As more states issue their own stay at home orders or other actions to fight the spread of COVID-19, this guidance is meant to help state and local officials determine how to protect their communities while also ensuring the security and resiliency of critical infrastructure. 

After CISA released their first memorandum on critical infrastructure, NAW worked with the agency to ensure that wholesaler-distributors were adequately represented in any future guidance as they continue to deliver critical supplies across the nation during these uncertain times. 

Additionally, NAW wrote to the nation’s governors to urge them to adopt the CISA guidance as they continue to issue and update orders to protect their citizens. 

You can read the most updated guidance here:

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA_Guidance_on_the_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workforce_Version_2.0_1.pdf

Updated: Guidance on Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under FFCRA

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced more guidance to provide information to workers and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it takes effect on April 1, 2020.

The new guidance includes questions and answers addressing critical issues such as what documents employees can be required to submit to their employers to use paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave; whether workers can take paid sick leave intermittently while teleworking and whether workers whose employers closed before the effective date of the FFCRA can still get paid sick leave. 

This guidance adds to a growing list of compliance assistance materials published by WHD, including a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers, and an earlier Questions and Answers document. Available are two new posters, one for federal workers and one for all other employees, that will fulfill notice requirements for employers obligated to inform employees about their rights under this new law, Questions and Answers about posting requirements and a Field Assistance Bulletin describing WHD’s 30-day non-enforcement policy.

WHD provides additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19 and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act at: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

For more information about the laws enforced by the WHD, call 866-4US-WAGE, or visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd

Jade West, Chief Government Relations Officer

Blake Adami, Vice President-Government Relations

Seth Waugh, Associate Vice President-Government Relations

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors