Legal Blog

COVID-19: Executive Order 107 & Multi-Family Property Staffing

Executive Order 107 imposes uniform restrictions on certain activities in New Jersey. Many media outlets covered the generic requirements of this Order. This post focuses on the effective of Executive 107 on the multi-family property industry.

As a general matter, EO107 requires that all New Jersey employees remain home or at their “place of residence” unless a specific exception applies. One of these exceptions is travel necessary to report to or perform a job.  The Order further requires that business “whether closed or open to the public” “accommodate’ the workforce for “telework or work-from-home arrangements.” Multi-family properties rely on the hard and essential work of porters, building maintenance staff and service technicians. It is impossible for these workers to perform their jobs remotely.

EO17 requires that businesses with workers who cannot work remotely “reduce the staff on site to the minimal number necessary to ensure operations can continue.” For the remaining minimal staff, it is required that business operations “abide by social distancing practices” and engage in the “frequent use of sanitizing products on common surfaces.”

Without restating prior guidance, the key takeaways are:

  1. Close common area gathering places (recreation rooms, lobbies, café’s (except for takeout) etc.);
  2. Employ the bare minimum amount of staff necessary to main the clean, safe and sanitary operation of the building;
  3. Staff should be scheduled to ensure that work is performed at a safe social distance and frequently touched surfaces (door handles, doors, elevator buttons, etc.) are continually cleaned with sanitizing products

Offit Kurman, P.A., maintains a broad-based landlord and property owner representation practice. In New Jersey, Offit Kurman represents landlords and property managers in maximizing return, resolving disputes and avoiding unnecessary and costly delays. The Firm’s New Jersey geographic practice area includes: Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Hudson County, Newark, Essex County, Woodbridge, Middlesex County, Paterson, Passaic County, Hackensack, Bergen County and other points across New Jersey.