Minnesota’s Shelter in Place Order was issued today, March 25, 2020, by Gov. Tim Walz as Executive Order 20-20. It will take effect on March 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. and will run through April 10, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
In general, construction businesses are classified within the “Exemption – Critical Sector” category.” Specifically construction and critical trades and “other related construction of all kind” are exempt.
A link to the full Shelter in Place Order can be found here.
The Executive Order states that workers and personnel of construction businesses may go to work if they “are performing work that cannot be done from their home or residence through telework or virtual work and can be done only at a place of work outside of their home or residence.” The terms “workers” and “personnel” include employees, contractors, vendors and volunteers.
Based on these definitions, our interpretation of Executive Order 20-20 is that construction worker may continue to leave their homes for work provided their job cannot be done at home through remote means.
If you have questions or concerns about how the Minnesota Stay At Home Order or COVID-19 in general will affect your construction business or employees, we are here to help. Please contact Blake Nelson, Chair of the Hellmuth & Johnson Construction Law Group, at either 952-746-2131 or [email protected].
