Many employees and employers, in recent weeks, have been adjusting to the new normal of working from home due to California’s Shelter-in-Place order. However, employers and their employees deemed part of the essential critical infrastructure face a different complication. One major issue facing essential employees is handling childcare issues in light of daycare and school closures.

On April 4, 2020, the Governor issued an executive order to help essential critical infrastructure workers obtain necessary childcare to continue working to assist in the State’s COVID-19 response.

The California Department of Education and the Department of Social Services was shared with jointly developing and issuing guidance on prioritizing enrollment for children of essential workers. Moreover, the two departments must develop and issue guidance on health and safety practices including physical distancing. The order indicates that guidance from the two departments is to be issued by April 7, 2020.

Jackson Lewis will continue to track this and other orders at the state and local level.