COVID-19: Essential Business Update – Face Coverings Now Required for All Essential Employees

All New York employers remain subject to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders 202.6 and 202.8 (“PAUSE Orders”) which require the closure of all non-essential businesses through April 29, 2020.  However, the PAUSE Orders permit “essential businesses” to remain in operation allowing employees to report to worksites. These businesses include health care, essential manufacturing, essential retail, law enforcement, and certain construction services, among others.
To ensure continued employee safety, on Monday April 13^thGovernor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.16 which now requires all essential business employers to provide “face coverings” at their own expense to all employees reporting to work. The Order provides:
For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees.
This requirement is effective beginning on: Wednesday, April 15 at 8 p.m.

View the PDF