COVID-19 Employer Resources

Last Updated: May 13, 2020

The Chamber is committed to sharing as much information with all of you as possible.

The following resources have been aggregated in order for employers to navigate changes in the wake of the pandemic.

If you have questions regarding these resources please feel free to reach out to Rick Weldon, President and CEO of the Chamber.

Re-Open Resources

Frameworks and best practices to assist businesses in their efforts to establish safe workplaces for their employees, consumers and the general public.

SAFE WORKPLACE: Best Practices & Baselines

Constructed with input from Chamber members and other stakeholders from across the state, ReNEW Maryland is a collection of policy proposals from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce that will assist Maryland in overcoming the economic impact of COVID-19 and rebuilding the strength of its economy.

ReNEW Maryland

State Clarification: Essential Businesses

On Monday, March 30th Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a stay at home executive order. The order is set to remain in effect until the state of emergency is over. Violations can be punished with a misdemeanor charge.

According to the order, people are allowed to leave their homes to exercise in accordance with social distancing guidelines; go grocery shopping; go to an educational institution to pick up food; work an essential job; care for a relative or friend; care for livestock or pets; visit their own businesses for minimal operations and go to government buildings for necessary purposes.

At this time, Maryland residents may continue to travel across state lines for work. Residents of other states may enter our state for work at essential businesses.

Currently, there is not a state-issued "Letter of Clearance" or similar document for employees of essential businesses to carry. It is recommended that employers draft and print their own letters containing:

Name and address of the employee
Name and address of the business
Nature of the employee’s work and reasons why it fits the definition of essential
Employer's signature and contact information

Employees should have this letter on their person when traveling to-from work.

Stay At Home Order Details

Cyber SWAT Team Hotline Resource

The Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc (CAMI) has launched a Cyber SWAT Team initiative to provide a coordinated breach response effort to respond to the increase in cybersecurity attacks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses can email cyberSWAT@MDcyber.com or go to CAMI's website to submit a hotline request. Businesses will receive a call from a cybersecurity professional within one hour who will gather additional information and triage their hotline request to an appropriate vendor. There is no cost for this service connecting businesses with information, resources and referrals.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Has Been Signed Into Law– What This Means for Employers

On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law. This law makes sweeping changes to an employer’s legal obligations: (1) imposing a paid sick and safe leave (“PSL”) mandate for COVID-19-related reasons on most employers with fewer than 500 employees; (2) temporarily expanding coverage for school and child care closures associated with COVID-19 and imposing a paid leave requirement under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) on these same employers; (3) encouraging states to extend unemployment benefits for reasons associated with COVID-19; and (4) giving a payroll tax credit to employers for the paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave mandates. Many of our members have requested a resource on this. Below are some summaries and resources regarding HR 6201 - Families First Act 2020.

Web Resources:

Families First SHRM Summary

MS Law Legal Review Resource

Mandated Poster

Company Policy Sample

The following FFCRA leave policy is being offered at no cost by the Johnston Business Law Group. This policy may be used in company employee handbooks. Please note this policy expires on December 31, 2020, unless otherwise announced by U.S. Congress. Note: This sample policy is designed to cover most circumstances. But all employers should consult legal counsel to address issues that are specific to your company. Use of this policy does not create an attorney-client relationship between your company and the Johnston Business Law Group.

FFCRA Sample Policy

Maryland Coronavirus Information for Business

Maryland Department of Commerce in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, and several other state agencies have a webpage dedicated to business resources during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

On it you will find guidelines for employers, fair labor standards, information on insurance claims, opportunities for financial assistance, tax questions, and more.

Visit the Page

Other Resources

COVID-19 Employee Guidance from Maryland Attorney General Frosh
The Maryland Insurance Administration has put together an a document addressing insurance-related questions about coronavirus. You can access it online here.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has a COVID-19 website with information specifically for workers and employers. Information on issues relating to wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act can be found at this link.