Long-term care facilities face unprecedented workforce challenges in this era of COVID-19, such as expanded safety considerations and maintaining sufficient staffing. This session will address legal considerations related to the most prevalent employment-related issues faced by facilities in these extraordinary times, including employee testing, mandatory and optional paid time off and leaves of absences, and dealing with problematic off-duty conduct.

• Understand Oregon’s COVID-19 testing requirements for Licensed nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential care facilities, and practical and legal considerations related to employee testing
• Identify applicable required and optional federal, state, and local paid time off and leave of absence options for employees who are absent for COVID-19 related reasons
• Properly respond to employees refusing to work, including employees at high risk for COVID-19, or engaged in concerning off-duty activities

Jeff Brecht, Shareholder, Lane Powell
Jeff Duncan Brecht represents healthcare companies and providers, with an emphasis on the senior housing, post-acute, and long-term care industry. Jeff helps clients handle regulatory compliance, risk management, HIPAA / privacy issues, employment matters, and complex involuntary discharges. He also defends them in federal and state administrative hearings against agency actions, and in civil court against wrongful death and other claims.

Christine Thelen, Counsel to the Firm, Lane Powell 
As a former Human Resources Consultant, Christine Thelen brings to her practice a unique understanding of the challenges employers and HR professionals face, from  workplace disputes and employee relation issues, to compliant policies and practices. Christine provides advice and training to employers and HR professionals on an array of HR policy, compliance, employee relations, and workplace issues, including challenging separation and disciplinary actions, discrimination and harassment concerns, leaves of absence and ADA compliance, and respectful workplace and manager training and coaching. Most recently, she has been providing advice related to managing employees amidst COVID-19, including employee testing, paid time off, and reasonable accommodation requests.