Q&A About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Washington, D.C. Headquarters What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19 The EEOC enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, including the requirement for reasonable accommodation and rules about medical examinations and inquiries. The ADA and Rehabilitation Act rules continue to apply, but they do not interfere with or prevent employers from following the guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities about steps employers should take regarding COVID-19. Employers should remember that guidance from public health authorities is likely to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Therefore, employers should continue to follow the most current information on maintaining workplace safety. The EEOC has provided guidance (a publication entitled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act), consistent with these workplace protections and rules, that can help employers implement strategies to navigate the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace. This pandemic publication, which was written during the prior H1N1 outbreak, is still relevant today and identifies established ADA and Rehabilitation Act principles to answer questions frequently asked about the workplace during a pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 to be an international pandemic. The EEOC pandemic publication includes a separate section that answers common employer questions about what to do after a pandemic has been declared. Applying these principles to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following may be useful:How much information may an employer request from an employee who calls in sick, in order to protect the rest of its workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic? During a pandemic, ADA-covered employers may ask such employees if they are experiencing symptoms of the pandemic virus. For COVID-19, these include symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Employers must maintain all information about employee illness as a confidential medical record in compliance with the ADA. When may an ADA-covered employer take the body temperature of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic?Generally, measuring an employee's body temperature is a medical examination. Because the CDC and state/local health authorities have acknowledged community spread of COVID-19 and issued attendant precautions, employers may measure employees' body temperature. However, employers should be aware that some people with COVID-19 do not have a fever. Does the ADA allow employers to require employees to stay home if they have symptoms of the COVID-19? Yes. The CDC states that employees who become ill with symptoms of COVID-19 should leave the workplace. The ADA does not interfere with employers following this advice. When employees return to work, does the ADA allow employers to require doctors' notes certifying their fitness for duty? Yes. Such inquiries are permitted under the ADA either because they would not be disability-related or, if the pandemic influenza were truly severe, they would be justified under the ADA standards for disability-related inquiries of employees. As a practical matter, however, doctors and other health care professionals may be too busy during and immediately after a pandemic outbreak to provide fitness-for-duty documentation. Therefore, new approaches may be necessary, such as reliance on local clinics to provide a form, a stamp, or an e-mail to certify that an individual does not have the pandemic virus. If an employer is hiring, may it screen applicants for symptoms of COVID-19?Yes. An employer may screen job applicants for symptoms of COVID-19 after making a conditional job offer, as long as it does so for all entering employees in the same type of job.  This ADA rule applies whether or not the applicant has a disability.  May an employer take an applicant's temperature as part of a post-offer, pre-employment medical exam?Yes.  Any medical exams are permitted after an employer has made a conditional offer of employment.  However, employers should be aware that some people with COVID-19 do not have a fever. May an employer delay the start date of an applicant who has COVID-19 or symptoms associated with it? Yes.  According to current CDC guidance, an individual who has COVID-19 or symptoms associated with it should not be in the workplace. May an employer withdraw a job offer when it needs the applicant to start immediately but the individual has COVID-19 or symptoms of it?Based on current CDC guidance, this individual cannot safely enter the workplace, and therefore the employer may withdraw the job offer.

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EEOC ANUNCIA QUE TODA LA AGENCIA TELETRABAJARÁ

EEOC ANUNCIA QUE TODA LA AGENCIA TELETRABAJARÁ WASHINGTON. – En respuesta a la actual pandemia del coronavirus, la Comisión Para La Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo (EEOC) de EE. UU. Está implementando el teletrabajo (trabajo remotamente) en toda la agencia. Efectivo de inmediato, todos los empleados, aparte del personal mínimo necesario para manejar el correo, deben trabajar remotamente hasta nuevo aviso.              Este paso permite que la EEOC continúe aplicando las leyes antidiscriminatorias laborales nacionales mientras toma medidas para mantener seguros a sus empleados y al público. Antes de esta nueva política, la EEOC ya había implementado el teletrabajo ampliado en varias de sus 53 oficinas en todo el país. La EEOC había anunciado previamente que su oficina de campo y sede en Washington, D.C., habían pasado a teletrabajar al 100% debido a la posible exposición al coronavirus.              El 12 de marzo, todas las oficinas de la EEOC comenzaron a recibir quejas de discriminación laboral por teléfono, minimizando los riesgos para la salud de los empleados de la agencia y el público, a la vez garantizando que ningún empleado o solicitante perderá sus derechos según las leyes que aplicamos. Preservar el acceso para poder presentar una queja de discriminación es importante porque las leyes que impone la EEOC tienen plazos dentro de los cuales los empleados y los solicitantes deben presentar quejas de discriminación.             Si desea comenzar el proceso de presentar una queja de discriminación, le recomendamos que visite el portal público de la EEOC (https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/) para programar una cita de admisión por teléfono. También se puede acceder al sistema yendo directamente a nuestro sitio web en www.eeoc.gov. Más información sobre cómo llegar a una oficina de campo de EEOC está disponible en https://www.eeoc.gov/field/index.cfm.             Cualquier persona que no pueda usar el portal puede llamar a la EEOC al 1-800-669-4000 para comenzar el proceso de presentar una queja.              La EEOC también está alentando a los empleados federales en el proceso de igualdad de oportunidades laborales (EEO) del sector federal a presentar solicitudes de audiencias y apelaciones electrónicamente a través del portal público de la EEOC.                         Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición pueden comunicarse con la EEOC por videoteléfono al 1-844-234-5122. Si tiene una discapacidad que le impide acceder al portal público o tiene dificultades para acceder al portal, llame al 1-800-669-4000.               El liderazgo de la agencia continuará monitoreando esta situación en evolución y proporcionará información adicional a medida que esté disponible. Stay Connected with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

A message from our Board Members: Pandemic, Census 2020 and more..

March 16, 2020 AMERICAS COMMUNITY CENTER Visit our Website(click here) Questions about COVID-19 pandemic updates our website has links to 3 important websites to find important information... Center for Disease Control World Health Organization Florida Department of Health

Coronavirus Update March 16, 2020

Monday, March 16, 2020 As we continue to monitor the latest information from federal, state and local health officials, we want to remain proactive in preventing the potential exposure of COVID-19 to our community. We encourage everyone to take personal responsibility to assist us in maintaining a healthy environment for all. This includes practicing social distancing and staying away from public areas when possible. While information is changing rapidly, we will continue to provide you with the latest updates, including closures and service changes as they become available.   Closures & Service Changes Starting tonight, non-essential businesses citywide will be required to close daily by 11 pm until further notice. Kitchens may remain open for delivery and take-out only.  All restaurants will be required to reduce their seating capacity by 50%, not to exceed a maximum of 250. Effective Tuesday, March 17 at the end of the business day, all gyms, spas, and indoor parks in Sunny Isles Beach will be required to close until further notice. Effective Tuesday, March 17 all hotels and condominiums with chairs on the beach are required to reduce the amount of chairs set up by 50% and chairs must be spread out to encourage social distancing. Effective Tuesday, March 17 all City-owned parking garages and surface lots citywide will be open only to residents with a valid City-issued Sunny Isles Beach Resident ID Card.    Schools Miami-Dade County Public Schools, including Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8, remain closed until further notice. For Miami-Dade County School District updates, please visit dadeschools.net.  City Events & Activities City events and programs, including the After School Program and Spring Break Camp, are suspended until further notice. Impacted programs will be refunded accordingly. The Cultural & Community Services Department offers online registration and payments for many of our programs at activities.sibfl.net. Summer Camp registration has been postponed to Saturday, March 21 for residents and Saturday, April 4 for everyone. Registration for summer camp is available online at activities.sibfl.net. If registering online, payment must be made in full. We recommend you take advantage of this service if possible. If you would still prefer to register in person, you must call 305.792.1756 Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 5 pm to make an appointment. Government Center & City Services The Government Center remains open for essential business only. The Building, Code Compliance, and Planning & Zoning Departments have suspended walk-in service and will be servicing customers by appointment only until further notice. To make an appointment, you can book online at the links below. Building Permits Building High-Rise Construction  Code Compliance Business Licensing Parking Enforcement Planning & Zoning All library programs are suspended until further notice. Parks & Beach Access Points All city parks, including the Newport Fishing Pier, remain closed until further notice. The office at Pelican Community Park will remain open for essential business only. SIBshuttle The SIBshuttle remains in service and is being sanitized daily. Please do not ride the shuttle if you are sick or feel you are coming down with symptoms. Sanitization & Cleaning City staff has placed hand sanitizer stations in Pelican Community Park and the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center at every point of entry and common area. Both Pelican Community Park and the Government Center are sanitized frequently and will soon be scheduled for deep cleaning. All public areas, including bus shelters and benches, beach access showers, and DOGIPOT pet waste stations throughout the City are sanitized frequently. What you can do  We encourage everyone to continue to follow the preventive guidelines set forth by the CDC, including washing your hands often, staying home when sick and practicing social distancing. Individuals in Miami-Dade County who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call the Florida Department of Health at 305-470-5660. If you have a medical provider, call them. If traveling to a medical office or facility, call ahead. For questions about COVID-19 in Florida, please call the Florida Department of Health at 1-866-779-6121. For a medical emergency, call 911.   Resources Individuals in Miami-Dade County who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call the Florida Department of Health at 305-470-5660. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has set up a 24-hour hotline for questions concerning the Coronavirus: 1-866-779-6121. Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management These sites may have options to sign up for direct emails and alerts. Be proactive and sign up to receive information from these credible sources delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device. Stay Informed Stay up to date on the latest news, closures and updates from the City of Sunny Isles Beach. We will continue to post updates at sibfl.net/coronavirus. Sign up for SIBAlert emergency notifications Subscribe to eSIBi email notifications Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter We appreciate your cooperation and will continue to share updates with you from the Florida Department of Health and Miami-Dade County.

Leon County Government Employment Opportunities - 3.16.20

LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are driven by making a difference on the issues that matter most to our community and committed to demonstrating results, exceeding expectations in areas of customer service and exercising responsible stewardship of our community’s resources, then you may have what it takes to join our team. 

 Do you want to join the Leon County team?  Apply Online.

CLOSING DATE: March 27, 2020

Chief Innovation Officer

OPEN CONTINUOUSLY

Paramedic (PRN)

EMT (PRN)

Sr. Design Engineer 

Consolidated Dispatch Agency

 Public Safety Communications Operator (Open Continuously)

http://www.talgov.com/employment/cda-psco.aspx

 For additional information on Leon County employment opportunities:

Visit LeonCountyFL.gov/HR/jobs

Call our Job Line at (850) 606-2403

Watch Channel 16 on Comcast and CenturyLink

Visit Human Resources, 315 South Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor, Suite #210

Drug Free Workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer

People Focused.  Performance Driven

      
850.606.5300  |  cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov  |  www.LeonCountyFL.gov
301 S. Monroe St., Suite 502, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Governor Ron DeSantis Activates Emergency Bridge Loan Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

This message is sent on behalf of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality. 

Governor Ron DeSantis Activates Emergency Bridge

Loan Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 

Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. Applications will be accepted from March 17, 2020 through May 8, 2020.

“As we mitigate against the spread of COVID-19, the health, safety and well-being of Floridians comes first,” said Governor DeSantis. “I understand the harm mitigation strategies will have on small businesses throughout our state. By activating the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, we are providing the opportunity for Florida’s small businesses to receive cash immediately to ensure they can lessen the impacts felt as a result of COVID-19.” 

The DEO will administer the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation to provide cash flow to businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. The short-term, interest-free loans help bridge the gap between the time the economic impact occurred and when a business secures other financial resources, including payment of insurance claims or longer-term Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Up to $50 million has been allocated for the program.

“Governor DeSantis has been a true leader in the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and has prioritized the safety of all Floridians,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director, Ken Lawson. “The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan will help Florida’s small businesses get through this unsettling time. We appreciate the Governor’s efforts to keep Florida’s small businesses top of mind and our partners at the Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation to help them recover.”

Small business owners with two to 100 employees located in Florida affected by COVID-19 can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000. These loans are interest-free for up to one year and are designed to bridge the gap to either federal SBA loans or commercially available loans. The DEO will work with every borrower to ensure that repayment of the loan isn’t an overwhelming burden. To be eligible, a business must have been established prior to March 9, 2020 and demonstrate economic impacts as a result of COVID-19.

“Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in Florida must be our number one priority,” said Florida SBDC Network CEO, Mike Myhre. “The Florida SBDC Network stands ready to assist Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to help small businesses recover as a result of the impacts of COVID-19.”

“We are ready to assist the Governor and state of Florida to deliver this vital assistance to the small business community we serve, as we have 23 times since 1992,” said Florida First Capital Finance Corporation President and CEO, Todd Kocourek.

DEO is currently surveying businesses throughout the state of Florida who have been impacted by COVID-19. Businesses and non-profits can access the Business Damage Assessment survey at FloridaDisaster.BIZ. Select “COVID-19” from the drop-down menu on the survey page. Response to the Business Damage Assessment survey is not an application for assistance. Businesses interested in the bridge loan program must fill out a bridge loan application.

For more information on the program, visit www.floridadisasterloan.org. For questions regarding the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at 866-737-7232 or email Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org. The phone line will be answered during regular business hours; all voice mails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

      
850.606.5300  |  cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov  |  www.LeonCountyFL.gov
301 S. Monroe St., Suite 502, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Latin People News LPN: EEOC OPERATIONS DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Latin People News LPN: EEOC OPERATIONS DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: Please be advised that due to the current health situation, EEOC's Field Offices have temporarily stopped conducting in-person

EEOC OPERATIONS DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Please be advised that due to the current health situation, EEOC's Field Offices have temporarily stopped conducting in-person intake interviews.  If you have previously scheduled in-person intake appointment, your appointment will be changed to a telephone interview. The office will not accept walk-ins at this time.  You are encouraged to visit  the EEOC Public Portal (https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/) to schedule an intake appointment by telephone.  The system can also be accessed by going directly to our website at www.eeoc.gov. If you are near a filing deadline (at least 180 days but generally 300 days)  please call 1-800-669-4000. For individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, you can reach EEOC by videophone at 1-844-234-5122.  If you have a disability which prevents you from accessing the Public Portal or you otherwise have difficulty with accessing the portal, please call 1-800-669-4000.

Stay Connected with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission