Last night, after his primetime address, Governor Evers issued Executive Order #94 which advises residents to stay home, take precautions if they have to leave their home, and encourages businesses to take additional steps to protect workers, customers, and the surrounding community. While the document is entitled as an “Order” there is no fine or penalty for failure to comply. However, Wisconsin employers should take note that failure to follow Evers’  workplace recommendations could lead to workers’ compensation, OSHA, and “Safe-place Statute” claims.  In addition, an employer who discharges an employee who complains that the order is not being followed could give rise to an OSHA retaliation complaint or wrongful discharge claim under Wisconsin’s public policy exception to the “at-will” doctrine.  The full order can be accessed here.

For guidance on how to navigate these issues, and other COVID-related issues, contact an attorney on our COVID-19 team.

Disclaimer

The content in the following blog posts is based upon the state of the law at the time of its original publication. As legal developments change quickly, the content in these blog posts may not remain accurate as laws change over time. None of the information contained in these publications is intended as legal advice or opinion relative to specific matters, facts, situations, or issues. You should not act upon the information in these blog posts without discussing your specific situation with legal counsel.

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