Day Pitney remains committed to providing quality legal counsel, while protecting our clients and employees, and transforming our communities into more just, equal and equitable spaces. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Center | Racial Justice and Equity Task Force.
On May 8, Gov. Ned Lamont released sector rules for the anticipated May 20 reopening of several types of Connecticut businesses. The rules address various requirements that businesses must adhere to in order to reopen next week. Specific rules were released for several industries including restaurants, personal care/hair salons, museums and zoos, retail and malls, and offices. This advisory focuses on the specific rules for offices seeking to reopen on May 20 and should be applied in the context of other applicable federal laws, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules on employee protection.
General guidelines
Any office intending to reopen on May 20 must self-certify that it complies with sector rules prior to opening. According to the Connecticut online portal, the certification system came online on May 10. Offices unable to certify compliance with sector rules should delay reopening until they are able to fully comply. While adherence to the sector rules is critical to reopening, Lamont also notes that the rules are a minimum baseline of necessary precautions and businesses should take additional measures as may be indicated by industry guidance or common sense.
Offices allowed to reopen on May 20 will be limited to 50 percent capacity. Employees are still encouraged to work from home wherever possible, and those deciding or being asked to return to the office should be fully aware of the potential risks of returning. Employees over the age of 65 or with preexisting health conditions are strongly encouraged to remain at home.
Shared/common spaces
Businesses that are tenants should coordinate with building owners to ensure compliance with sector rules. Landlords are responsible for shared/common spaces used by tenants, and tenants are responsible for individual workspaces/offices.
Reopening your office
GeneralFor more information, please visit the CT Business Reopening and Recovery Center.
For more Day Pitney alerts and articles related to the impact of COVID-19, as well as information from other reliable sources, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Center.
COVID-19 DISCLAIMER: As you are aware, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, things are changing quickly and the effect, enforceability and interpretation of laws may be affected by future events. The material set forth in this document is not an unequivocal statement of law, but instead represents our best interpretation of where things stand as of the date of first publication. We have not attempted to address the potential impacts of all local, state and federal orders that may have been issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 6, Day Pitney and the Association of Corporate Counsel-Northeast Chapter are hosting a webinar, "Managing the Workplace in Wake of COVID-19."
Day Pitney Alert
Day Pitney Alert
Day Pitney Press Release
Rachel A. Gonzalez was recently recognized by New Jersey Law Journal as a "2020 Top Woman in Law."
Daniel Schwartz was quoted in the Connecticut Law Tribune article, "5 Tips for Employment Lawyers in the Age of COVID-19."
The Connecticut Law Tribune interviewed top attorneys, including Day Pitney Partner and Executive Board Member Glenn Dowd, about Big Law continuing to come up with new safety protocols and procedures in how to safely deal with opening its offices.
Day Pitney Press Release
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This website may use cookies, pixel tags and other passive tracking technologies, including Google Analytics, to improve functionality and performance. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. By using our website, you are consenting to our use of these tracking technologies. You can alter the configuration of your browser to refuse to accept cookies, but if you do so, it is possible that some areas of web sites that use cookies will not function properly when you view them. To learn more about how to delete and manage cookies, refer to the support instructions for each browser (e.g., see AllAboutCookies.org). You may locate Google Analytics' currently available opt-outs for the web here.