On August 26, Governor Ige approved Mayor Caldwell’s Emergency Order 2020-25, Second Stay at Home / Work From Home Order, which is effective 12:00 a.m. on August 27 through September 9.  The Order requires individuals to stay at home and work from home except for essential activities, essential businesses, or essential public infrastructure construction.

Essential Businesses

Essential Businesses means one of the 29 categories of businesses specified in Section II.F. of the Order.  The categories of Essential Businesses remain generally same as the previous Order, with the exception of minor changes to some of the categories, removal of the University of Hawaii system and the State Department of Education from the Educational institutions category, and addition of two more categories:  In-person spiritual services and Film and television production.

If you are uncertain whether or to what extent your company is an Essential Business, you should review Section II.F of the new Order.  If you have any questions, HEC members should reach out to their HR Consultant or call the City & County of Honolulu’s hotline at 768-CITY (768-2489).

Designated Businesses & Operations

The entire list of Designated Businesses & Operations (Exhibit A of the previous Order), has been eliminated.  For those businesses that were both Essential and Designated, make sure you are clear as to which parts of your operation are essential and which parts must now cease.  For example, restaurants are Essential Businesses for the purposes of delivery and carryout (see Section II.F.13.), but dine-in services must cease because such services were only Designated Operations.  Again, if you have any questions, HEC members should reach out to their HR Consultant or call the City & County of Honolulu’s hotline at 768-CITY (768-2489).

Minimum Basic Operations

Non-essential businesses may continue operations through remote work, but must cease all other activities except Minimum Basic Operations.  Minimum Basic Operations means “the minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions” and “the minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.” (Section II.G.)

For more information or questions about this Order, feel free to reach out to your HEC HR Consultant or:
Visit:  oneoahu.org
Call:  808-768-CITY (2489)
Email:  covidresponse@honolulu.gov