Alex Berke Quoted in New York Times Article on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

t is starting to seem, from our perspective, that either employers have not been made sufficiently aware of the leave entitled to workers under the FFCRA or that they are willing to risk a lawsuit for wrongful termination.

Earlier this week, Senate GOP leadership introduced their $1 trillion opening response to the $3 trillion Congressional HEROES Act, originally proposed in May. As we have noted, the signal demand coming from Mitch McConnell’s office is liability protection (the “L” in HEALS) for businesses and health care organizations. Translated, McConnell wants to prevent workers from suing employers if they contract coronavirus at work. And the GOP appears firm that without consensus on this issue, there will be no new stimulus.

This week marks a significant juncture for the US as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is scheduled to end next week, schools are considering how to safely serve students, and workplaces continue to grapple with safety concerns.