In This Issue:
  • A Travel Ban and Paid Sick Leave: What Do You Do?
  • Updated List of States on The Travel Advisory
  • OSHA’s FAQs Related to COVID-19
  • Know Your Risk During COVID-19
  • Upcoming Webinars
  • Electrical Code Change
  • Empire Chapter Resources
A Travel Ban and Paid Sick Leave: What Do You Do?
As New York continues to take steps to limit the spread of COVID 19, the recently announced travel advisory is causing unintended consequences. Employers across the state are caught in the interplay between employees vacation plans and government regulations. They continue to ask us what to do in order to not get fined. Let us try to help.

New York State and the federal government have both passed Paid Sick Leave legislation as it relates to COVID. When they passed this legislation, there was no consideration of restricted travel within the US. Yet that’s exactly what we have now and it’s an issue. Employers are now finding themselves “paying” for employees to get a 3-week vacation (the regular one week and the 14 days of quarantine) when it should only be the one week.

We worked with the Governor’s office to clarify the New York law. In an   Executive Order ,  the Governor made it clear VOLUNTARY travel to a state that is deemed to be unsafe is not eligible for Paid Sick leave. Please understand that only applies to VOLUNTARY travel. Conversely, if you, as a company, send someone to work on one of those states, and that person upon their return cannot work remotely, you will have to pay them Paid Sick Leave for the 14-day quarantine.
As always, we're here to help. If you're uncertain about your particular situation, you can use our Professional Services Committee (PSC) to get an additional opinion. The Membership team will make the connection to the PSC for you.
Updated List of States on The Travel Advisory
As of Tuesday, July 14th, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin have been added to the list of states who meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days. Delaware has been removed from the list.

The most current list of states is below:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi 
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin

As a reminder, people who choose to not to self-quarantine will face fines for the violations. The first violation is a $2,000 fine, the second is a $5,000 fine and potentially up to a $10,000 fine for a third violation. ABC will continue to monitor the list of states and keep you updated.

Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
OSHA’s FAQs Related to COVID-19
Know Your Risk During COVID-19
High Risk
  • Eating at a buffet
  • Working out at the gym
  • Going to an amusement park
  • Going to a movie theater
  • Attending a large music concert 
  • Going to a sports stadium
  • Attending a religious service with 500+ worshipers 
  • Going to a bar

Moderate Risk
  • Having dinner at someone else‘s house
  • Attending a backyard barbecue
  • Going to a beach
  • Shopping at the mall
  • Sending kids to school, camp, or daycare 
  • Working a week in an office building
  • Swimming in a public pool
  • Visiting an elderly relative or friend in their home
Moderate to High Risk
  • Going to a hair salon or barbershop
  • Eating inside a restaurant 
  • Attending a wedding or funeral
  • Traveling by plane
  • Playing basketball or football
  • Hugging or shaking hands 




Moderate to Low Risk
  • Grocery shopping
  • Going on a walk, run, bike ride with others
  • Playing golf
  • Staying at a hotel for two nights
  • Sitting in a doctor’s waiting room
  • Going to a library or museum
  • Eating at a restaurant outside
  • Walking in a busy downtown
  • Spending an hour at a playground
Low Risk
  • Opening the mail 
  • Getting restaurant takeout
  • Pumping gasoline
  • Going camping

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Surety Industry — What Contractors Need to Know

Date:  Tuesday, July 21
Time:  3 p.m. EDT
Speakers:  Julie Alleyne, The Surety & Fidelity Association of America; Michael Gross, CNA Surety; Thomas O. McClellan, Zurich Surety; Steve Nelson, Markel Surety
Moderator: Mike Bellaman, ABC National

Learn from seasoned surety industry leaders how contractors should protect themselves contractually during the pandemic and pitfalls to avoid. Find out how the current construction market compares to the market following the 2008 financial crisis; how the surety market could be impacted based on anticipated changes in the construction industry and how the surety industry will perform. Panelists will also discuss bonding capacity and/or the ability to get bonding, the ability to call on a bond of a contractor impacted by the pandemic and insights into current and anticipated claim patterns due to the pandemic.

Electrical Code Change
Did you know that all cable ties used for supporting and securing all conductors, cables, and raceways must be labeled and listed for the purpose now? This will be a highly enforced CODE Change for the 2017 NEC.

Discover this and over 60 other important Code Changes!

Any new Building Permit issued on or after May 12, 2020 must follow the requirements set forth in the 2017 National Electrical Code. ABC’s Statewide Director of Safety, Jason Ashlaw, who is a Master Electrician for over 20 years and an Instructor, is available to conduct NFPA 2017 Code update training for your Company. This Update training is a 2 hour session and we can customize this training through ZOOM. All of these Electrical Code changes are going to be enforced in New York State.

ABC Member Cost: $200 per company (up to 20 participants)
ABC Empire Chapter Resources