More on Employers' Responses to Katrina: Legal Obligations and Suggestions

If you are an employer, or just plain interested, it may be useful to know what employers' obligations and options are in light of a natural disaster, like Katrina.

A recent law firm memo goes a long way toward describing some possible legal obligations and suggests optional ways for employers to help affected employees.

Some of the main points include:


1. Maintaining communications with employees, regarding such items as temporary housing, continued payment of wages, providing time off, and employee benefits. The article points out that websites are a good way to provide key information.

2. Utilization of EAPs; noting the psychological and stress-related issues that may arise, the article suggests making use of an EAPs.

3. Expansion of leave time, particularly since FMLA and/or USERRA may come into play in these kinds of siutations.

4. ADA may entitle some employees to various accommodations, based on phsycial or emotional trauma suffered.

5. Continuation of employee benefit programs should be considered, and requirements under ERISA, insurance company regs for payments, and COBRA-related issues, need to be considered.

For more details, read this memo by Littler Mendelson, on employer responsibilities following a natural disaster like Katrina.