Pennsylvania Updates

Written by Anonymous | Sep 25, 2020 10:45:00 AM

Amendments to Philadelphia's PHFWO

Mayor Kenney has signed an amendment to the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Ordinance (PHFWO) to require public health emergency leave (up to two weeks) for employees, gig workers, and others who do not receive leave under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). An individual who works more than 40 hours in a year within the City of Philadelphia is eligible to take paid sick leave for the same reasons outlined in the FFCRA.

There are exceptions including:

  • Employees who can telework successfully despite dealing with a qualifying situation are not required to be given leave
  • Employees who already receive 10 days of paid sick leave or PTO time that can be used for the same reasons under their employer’s existing policies are not eligible for additional leave

This has a posting requirement and will sunset on December 31, 2020. Learn more here.

The mayor also signed an amendment requiring compensation and medical care or reimbursement for certain healthcare employees who contract a disease during a declared pandemic or epidemic.

 

Pennsylvania Requires Construction Industry Employers to Use E-Verify

As a reminder, effective October 7, 2020, employers in the construction industry are required to use E-Verify to verify the employment eligibility of new employees. E-Verify is the federal government’s web based program that allows employers to verify an employee’s work-authorization electronically. The requirement will also apply to staffing agencies that provide workers to construction industry employers. Verification records must be kept for the duration of employment or three years, whichever is longer. Read more about the Pennsylvania Construction Industry Employer Verification Act.

If you are interested in FrankCrum providing the E-Verify service to you, please reach out to our Business Affairs team at: legal@frankcrum.com.