# Are You An Essential Worker? Written on April 03, 2020. As more states, including Georgia, issue "shelter in place" orders in response to the COVID-19 virus that require all but essential workers to stay home, the question on everyone's mind is: am I an essential worker? Look no further than the U.S Department of Homeland Security's [CISA ADVISORY MEMORANDUM ON IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE.](https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA_Guidance_on_the_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workforce_Version_2.0_Updated.pdf) Employees who are "essential workers" will be traveling to and from work at a time when most people have been been ordered to stay home. The last thing that these people need is a ticket or citation just for going to work. Employers should take steps to assist these employees in case they are stopped by law enforcement. Employers can provide these essential employees with a document, on company letterhead, that describes the business and the reasons why this employee is an "essential employee" along with a contact name and number at the company if there are any questions. Further, essential employees should be advised to have any badges issued by the employer available along with the document. Employers of essential employees should also follow [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html) and [OSHA](https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf) Guidelines to protect the health and safety of those employees. - [](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fare-you-an-essential-worker.md&text=) - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fare-you-an-essential-worker.md) - [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fare-you-an-essential-worker.md) - [](mailto:?subject=Are%20You%20An%20Essential%20Worker%3F) ![Kathleen J. Jennings](https://wimlaw.com/images/resources/articles/2020/06/kathleen-portrait-300.jpg) Kathleen J. Jennings Former Principal Kathleen J. Jennings is a former principal in the Atlanta office of Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider, & Stine, P.C. She defends employers in employment matters, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, Wage and Hour, OSHA, restrictive covenants, and other employment litigation and provides training and counseling to employers in employment matters. ## Related Content ## Get Email Updates Receive newsletters and alerts directly in your email inbox. Sign up below. ## Recent Content [ Articles ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) [ ![chaotic light lines](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/33/soheb-zaidi-yuv1FPyZdR0-unsplash-33611845.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52)### [TPS UPDATE! Termination of TPS Status for Haitians, Syrians, Somalians, South Sudanese, Yemeni, Ethiopians, and Burmese](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52) [Alerts](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=52) On July 10, 2026, E-Verify notified employers that work authorization is extended temporarily through July 24, 2026, for workers from the f… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52) [ ![connected spheres](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/12/d-koi-COFXWa6LJdw-unsplash-12ea6ce5.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53)### [DOL Issues New Joint Employer Rule Proposal](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced on April 22, 2026, a new proposed rule clarifying when multiple employers are jointly liable f… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53) [ ![plaintiff sign](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/89/wesley-tingey-mlGJB5D9IS0-unsplash-898571c2.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53)### [The Supreme Court Again Addresses Whether Drivers Are Exempt from FAA Arbitration Agreements ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) encourages the use and enforcement of arbitration agreements, although the Act contains an exception for… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53) [ ![3](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/a0/marcel-eberle-FGYv8CDQBmg-unsplash-a0ece82f.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53)### [Trump Nominates Third NLRB Member, Whose Confirmation Signals Potential for Change ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) On April 13, 2026, President Trump nominated James Macy to fill the third vacant Republican seat on the National Labor Relations Board (NLR… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53) [ ![deception](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/3e/mick-haupt-2vCvnNhsi6E-unsplash-3e10d265.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53)### [Defendant Sues Plaintiff Over “Fabricated” Sex Harassment Claims](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) An employer official named in a graphic sexual harassment suit brought a counter-claim against her accuser for defamation, calling his alle… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53) [ ![pointing to computer](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/07/john-FlPc9_VocJ4-unsplash-07928d89.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53)### [Federal Workers to Get New and Tougher Performance Reviews](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) No personnel issues have been debated longer and more thoroughly than that of the utility of performance reviews. Some argue that such rev… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53) ### Additional Legal Resources [### Newsletter Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/publications/newsletters) [### Books Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/publications/books) [### Alerts Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/alerts) [### Articles Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/articles) [### Audits Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/audits) [### Events Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/events)