Law Will Reinstate Essential Workers Displaced by Pandemic

Many workers across the country were furloughed, displaced, or let go due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. A Washington, D.C. law was passed last month will reinstate displaced local employees as their former positions become available, JD Supra reports.

The Displaced Workers Right to Reinstatement and Retention Amendment Act of 2020 affects in-house and contract employees in the retail, hospitality,  restaurant, custodial and building maintenance, hospital, and nursing care facilities industries in the Washington, D.C. area. It states that employers and contractors “must offer employees displaced by COVID-19 reinstatement to their previous positions or to a substantially similar position as positions become available.”

Additionally, the law states that the only employees eligible for this reinstatement right are those who ceased working at the covered establishment or for a contractor due to COVID-19. For hotel workers, the timeline is between December 1, 2019 and last day of the Washington D.C. mayor’s order in response to COVID-19. For non-hotel workers, the last date of employment must be between March 1, 2020 and last day of the public health emergency order.

The law will take effect sometime between mid-February to mid-March and will expire June 30, 2023.