CDF Partner Ashley Halberda authored the article "How to Avoid a COVID-19 Leal Infection for Today's Veterinary Business article. , CDF Partner Ashley Halberda reviews how veterinarians can avoid a COVID legal claims stemming from the pandemic, including steps practice owners can take to avoid claims over discrimination, paid leave, medical testing, and harassment.
Except: "As businesses reopen across the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic, veterinary practice owners are confronted with myriad decisions that can impact profits. Minimizing the risk from potential employee lawsuits should not be a primary consideration, but it does need to be an important part of the reopening calculus.
Returning to Work
If your clinic has been on the front lines and is looking to bring back more staff, or if your practice was closed or partly open during shelter-in-place orders, you need an objective, non-discriminatory rehiring plan unless all furloughed employees will return at the same time. Federal law forbids employment discrimination against individuals on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or citizenship, among other factors. Importantly, you should ignore everything you read about excluding people ages 65 or older from the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not law and can get you sued if you follow it. Many states have discrimination laws, so do some checking."
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Ashley Halberda
Ashley A. Halberda advises and represents clients in matters involving California labor and employment law. During her years of practice, Halberda has gained extensive experience in representing employers before state, federal…
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