Covid-19 PA Business Update
Jacob M. Dietz
PA Construction to Resume May 8.
In a press release dated April 20, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf indicated that construction may begin Friday, May 8th. There is currently some construction that has been considered life-sustaining already, and the administration is not preventing that from continuing.
The Wolf administration will have safety guidance for construction companies to follow after they resume work on May 8th. When that guidance is available to them, construction owners may want to consider studying it and making plans to implement it so that they are ready to go when May 8th comes.
Here is a quote from the press release:
“Public and private residential and non-residential construction may resume statewide starting Friday, May 8, in accordance with safety guidance that will be issued by the administration shortly. Construction projects already deemed life-sustaining may continue while adhering to social distancing, personnel limits and other guidance as announced by the administration.”
Flexibility for Local Governments
In another press release dated April 20, it was announced that Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 841. Among other things, this bill allows taxing districts to avoid collecting fees and penalties for real estate taxes paid by the end of the year. If you owe real estate taxes in Pennsylvania and cash is tight, you may want to check if your local taxing authority will waive penalties and fees as long as you pay by the end of the year. It might be risky to assume that they will not charge you without first checking what your local taxing jurisdiction is doing.
PA Stay-at-Home Guidance
Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine’s Stay-at-Home orders have been extended until 12:01 AM on May 8th.
PA Worker Safety Press Release
An April 15 press release details worker safety procedures for PA businesses that are allowed to remain open. Here are some excerpts from it:
“Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement while at the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink, in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health and the CDC. Employers may approve masks obtained or made by employees in accordance with this guidance;”
“Ensure that all employees who do not speak English as their first language are aware of procedures by communicating the procedures, either orally or in writing, in their native or preferred language.”
There are also steps to take if there is Covid-19 exposure at the business, such as ventilation, disinfection, and notification of employees in close contact with the infected employee.
Although the business landscape keeps changing, continue to move forward wisely, prudently, and courageously.
This article is general in nature, and it does not contain legal advice. Contact your advisors to discuss your specific situation