Covid-19 and Contact Tracing

Laure Marolleau, Esq.

While France is entering the first phase of its end-of-lockdown plan, the Government’s strategy to combat a resumption of the epidemic is now based on monitoring “contact tracing”, i.e. the swift identification of any person who has been close to a patient in order to also test him/her and, if necessary, isolate him/her to avoid the spread of the disease.

French authorities are planning an “information system” based on two medical databases: Sidep and Contact Covid. As the design of the StopCovid app. is still under way, its deployment was not included in the end-of-lockdown plan presented on April 28, 2020.

Covid-19: National lockdown-exit protocol for businesses

Fabien Pomart, Esq.

The national lockdown exit protocol for businesses to guarantee the safety and health of employees intended for employers has just been published by the French Ministry of Labor.

The resumption of business activities is essential to avoid the collapse of the economy. However, this resumption must necessarily take place in a way that ensures the protection of employees’ health.

To this end, the French Ministry of Labor has released a national lockdown exit protocol to help and support companies and associations, whatever their size, activity and geographical location, to resume their business operations while ensuring the protection of their employees’ health through the application of universal rules.

Covid-19 and Amazon: Employers must involve staff representatives in the assessment of the risks and the preparation of the resulting health related measures

Charlotte Desfontaines, Esq.

On April 24, 2020, the Versailles Court of Appeals handed down an insightful decision concerning the implementation of employee protection measures by employers in the current health context and lockdown imposed by the Government on March 16.

Ruling on an appeal lodged by the American giant Amazon against the order issued by the Nanterre Judicial Court on April 14, 2020, the Versailles Court of Appeals upheld the order in that it provided for a mandatory obligation to implement a comprehensive national health and safety prevention plan for employees, with prior consultation with staff representatives.

This decision is in line with the need to reconcile the necessity to maintain a business activity with the preservation of employees’ health.

Covid-19: Extension of the state of health emergency

Pauline Kubat, Esq.

Law No. 2020-546 of May 11, 2020 extends the state of health emergency until July 10, 2020 included. As a reminder, the state of health emergency was declared by the Law of March 23, 2020 for an initial period of two months.

In addition to this one-and-a-half-month extension of the state of emergency, the provisions of the Law mark a cautious and progressive lifting of the lockdown in France.

This article provides an overview of the main measures adopted.

Arbitrators’ duty to disclose and independence: First clarifications by the International Commercial Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeals

Anaëlle Idjeri, Avocat

On February 25, 2020, the International Commercial Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeals ruled for the first time on the independence and impartiality of arbitrators and more generally on the scope of their duty to disclose.

In this decision, the International Commercial Chamber adopted a pragmatic view which showed its willingness to take a casuistic approach.

International Perspective: Coronavirus Lawsuits on the Horizon: Termination and Discrimination

We are pleased to publish a contribution entitled Coronavirus Lawsuits on the Horizon: Termination and Discrimination authored by Gregory P. Abrams and Taylor L. Haran, respectively Partner and Associate at the Chicago office of the international law firm Faegre Drinker.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the USA, many employers responded to this unprecedented and uncertain situation by furloughing and laying off some or all of their workforce. These actions already have spurred labor and employment lawsuits. And more are likely on the horizon, including as employees start returning to work.

This article highlights a few of the prevailing trends in recent COVID-19 related labor and employment litigation and includes proactive steps employers can take to help avoid a lawsuit.

WLG Global VOCID-19 Resource Center

The Covid-19 pandemic is a human tragedy and a global health crisis that affect billions of people worldwide. It also has an increasingly devastating impact on the global economy. To try and mitigate the adverse economic and financial effects of Covid-19, governments all around the world are taking steps and measures to support jobs and help businesses.

The World Law Group, a network of 59 leading independent law firms with more than 400 offices in major commercial centers worldwide, to which our Firm belongs, has centralized all the articles and insights of its members on the local impact of Covid-19 and the measures to support businesses adopted by the various countries where World Law Group member firms are present.