The pandemic—and shift to remote work—is speeding up a shift that has been years in the making.

Last month, the Supreme Court heard two cases, Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel, involving what’s known as the “ministerial exemption” to employment discrimination laws like Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA. The exemption is designed to preserve the distinction between church and state by recognizing that religious groups have some constitutional freedom, primarily under the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause, to select their own leaders and run their own affairs free from government interference, even when those employment decisions may violate federal law.

The IndyBar exists to serve members of the legal profession, and through our members we serve the community. Lawyers are problem-solvers, defenders of the rule of law. We spend our days seeking to improve the lives of our clients and our communities. We have an opportunity and a privilege to help. 

All Indianapolis District Office EEOC employees continue working in mandatory telework status. Though the office is closed employees are still performing their duties. Andrea Dayharsh, Supervisor of the Charge Receipt/Technical Information Unit, is accepting service of completed charges by email or fax.

Given the rapid and intense escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers and employees are faced with new problems, risks, and hazards in the workplace. Far too many of our devoted healthcare providers are dealing with the frightening consequences of the widespread shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Individual health workers may be particularly impacted by the current crisis and it can be challenging in this chaotic climate to identify and understand the legal protections that may apply to your situation.

We are currently living in unprecedented times: our healthcare system is being flooded with patients suffering from symptoms and complications related to COVID-19; schools have closed for the remainder of the school year; parents are working from home; many businesses have temporarily closed or drastically cut their workforce; and the number of people filing for unemployment has skyrocketed in a few short weeks. These unprecedented times have resulted in our government providing unprecedented benefits — including enacting laws providing many employers with economic relief while expanding support for employees.

I am hopeful that something good can and will emerge from our shared ordeal  It is with this in mind that I’m excited to announce a new social media campaign started by the Women and the Law Division Executive Committee – Find the Good. The goal of this campaign is to highlight IndyBar members who are finding good in life during this extraordinary time.

During this extraordinary time and beyond, the IndyBar is committed to bringing you the information, tools and resources you need to stay informed, stay connected and succeed in the legal profession.

During this challenging time, the IndyBar is dedicated to making many of our services, resources and tools available to members online so that you can keep thriving in your practice, even from home!

This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.