Layoffs and Furloughs in the Time of COVID-19: The Legal Risks and Best Practices

Chaz Billington, a partner in the Vorys Cleveland office, and Akilah Craig, an associate in the Vorys Houston office, presented a webinar to Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) members titled “Layoffs and Furloughs in the Time of COVID-19: The Legal Risks and Best Practices.”  The webinar will took place on April 10, 2020.

The current economic environment has employers facing unprecedented challenges at the state and federal level. Uncertain economic conditions have forced some employers to reduce costs, including through furloughs and layoffs. While furloughs and layoffs look similar, in practice they have key distinctions and risks that HR needs to consider while shepherding an organization through these difficult times. Billington and Craig provided attendees with an overview of the laws touching furloughs and layoffs, including state and federal WARN, state unemployment compensation, FLSA, EEO statutes, etc., and identified best practices for planning and carrying out furloughs and layoffs.

To learn more about the webinar, click here.