Welcome to COVID / Coronavirus update # 16.

First, in case you didn’t see, I corrected update # 15 to reflect that San Francisco indeed passed the “Back to Work” Ordinance  here, although the Mayor “returned it without her signature.” Turns out the San Francisco Mayor has three choices with respect to legislation: approve, veto, or “return without signature.”  In the latter case, the ordinance takes effect despite the Mayor’s decision not to sign.  Apologies for the original statement that the ordinance was vetoed.

Second, Sacramento has passed The Sacramento Worker Protection, Health and Safety Act, a copy of which is linked here.  Among other things, the ordinance:

• allows employees to refuse to work if they “reasonably believe” their employers are not following the safety protocols mandated in section 5.160.200 of the ordinance;
• Provides for the aforementioned safety protocols such as daily cleaning, hand washing facilities, face coverings, employer notification when there is a COVID infection and more.
• Creates a civil action for violations of the ordinance;
• Creates another paid sick leave entitlement for those larger employers (500 or more employees) not covered by the federal Coronavirus paid leave law under the Families First Act or FFCRA.

This ordinance takes effect on July 15, 2020.  It sunsets on December 31, 2020 unless extended.   The above is just a summary. Sacramento employers should review it all with counsel.