The Republicans in Congress have proposed a Covid-19 change in law that would effectively bar employees from any type of claims if the became infected with Covid-19 at work – no matter whether the employer totally failed to protect the employee from infection. If passed, this law would override OSHA and other laws designed to protect employees and make workplaces safe. It would also leave employees without a remedy if infected with Covid-19 on the job.
Worse yet, the proposed law would allow employers to sue their employees if the employee even attempted to state a claim or recover losses caused by a Covid-19 infection on the job. Ironically, this law is entitled “Safeguarding America’s Frontline Employees to Offer Work Opportunities Required to Kickstart the Economy Act” or “SAFE TO WORK Act.” The effects of this law would do precisely the opposite. Removing all economic incentives for protecting employees from infection, profit motivated businesses are far less likely to spend resources on employee protections. This puts employees and the public at risk.
Here’s a link to an LA Times article discussing the GOP proposal:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/column-gop-plan-cant-sue-172938487.html
