While the rest of the nation has largely moved on from COVID-19 workplace regulations, California employers still have some compliance obligations. For instance, a Cal/OSHA non-emergency COVID-19 regulation will remain on the...more
California public health officials just issued updated COVID-19 isolation guidance that at first blush seems to smooth the way for simpler workplace compliance obligations. But the Department of Public Health’s (CDPH)...more
After several long weeks as the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) undertook a review of the proposal, the new Cal/OSHA COVID-19 regulation has been approved as is now officially in effect. The new regulation was approved and...more
By now, California employers are familiar with the state’s COVID-19 safety protocols for the workplace. After several years, however, Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is being replaced by a new “permanent”...more
1/20/2023
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Training ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Regulations ,
Notice Requirements ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
Fans of the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story might remember the famous line, “Every real story is a never-ending story.” For California employers that have been grappling with COVID-19 for the better part of the last...more
10/7/2022
/ Cal-OSHA ,
CDPH ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workers' Compensation Claim ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
California public health officials recently revised the definitions of “close contact” and “infectious period” that appear in the state’s pandemic-related rules – and the new broader standards might catch some employers by...more
California workplace safety officials just approved a third round of changes to the state’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, and while many of them conform to recent guidance that have already been incorporated into...more
4/22/2022
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Emergency Rule ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
In the surest sign that COVID-19 restrictions are moving to the rearview mirror once and for all, California has just relaxed its face covering requirements, regardless of vaccination status in most settings – and for most...more
3/2/2022
/ Cal-OSHA ,
CDPH ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Public Health ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Hopefully you didn’t throw away those face coverings quite yet. Responding to the emerging Omicron variant and an anticipated winter COVID-19 surge, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) just issued an updated...more
The end of the legislative session in California is always a time of high drama as last-minute deals come together and many unexpected legislative proposals sneak out. This year is shaping up to be no different as multiple...more
Following recent updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommending that all individuals wear face coverings indoors regardless of vaccination status, Cal/OSHA just released a statement...more
Given the recent uptick in positive cases in the local area, Los Angeles County is reinstating its mask mandate regardless of vaccination status effective Saturday, July 17 at 11:59 p.m. This latest development will impact...more
The Santa Clara County Health Officer just issued a new order phasing out the May 18 Order that had introduced a vaccine-tracking mandate for employers, relieving employers of the administrative burden imposed by the...more
Businesses in Santa Clara County must get ready to comply with the County’s new vaccine tracking mandate by no later than June 1. The County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Center issued a May 18 Order of The Health...more
5/25/2021
/ Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Collection ,
Deadlines ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
In an unexpected turn of events, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board announced yesterday that it will not move to adopt the proposed revisions to the existing Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary...more
California Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) further updated its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Frequently Asked Questions late last week in an attempt to provide more clarification and answer questions the...more
1/12/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Quarantine ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Governor Gavin Newsom just issued an Executive Order that potentially reduces the quarantine exclusion period for COVID-19 exposed employees in California under a recently approved Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued by...more
12/16/2020
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Workplace Safety
California Governor Gavin Newsom just announced a Regional Stay Home Order on December 3 that could soon have a dramatic impact on businesses in the state. Unlike previous orders, the Regional Stay Home Order focuses on...more
12/4/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Furloughs ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Layoffs ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Shelter-In-Place ,
Workplace Safety
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board just adopted an emergency standard related to COVID-19 prevention in the workplace, imposing some significant requirements on California employers. Most notably, the new rule finalized yesterday...more
11/20/2020
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Rules ,
Notification Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Quarantine ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Sick Employees ,
Sick Leave ,
Social Distancing ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
Governor Newsom just signed into law a bill that will require public and private California employers to provide detailed notices to employees when there is a COVID-19 exposure in the workplace, and to provide notice to local...more
9/17/2020
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Exemptions ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Public Health ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed legislation that establishes a workers’ compensation presumption that will apply to most employers in the state that have a COVID-19 “outbreak” through 2022 – meaning it is much...more
9/17/2020
/ Burden of Proof ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
First Responders ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Legislation ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sick Employees ,
State Labor Laws ,
Virus Testing ,
Workers' Compensation Claim
San Francisco and San Jose have joined the growing list of local California jurisdictions to adopt COVID-19-specific paid sick leave measures impacting employer and employees who operate in the local areas. In general, these...more
The U.S. Department of Labor released a preliminary “Questions and Answers” page today, attempting to answer some preliminary compliance questions related to the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which will bring...more
The Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act today, an economic stimulus plan aimed at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Americans and introducing paid sick leave and an expanded family and...more
3/18/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Testing ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Sick Leave Act ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Sick Leave ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
In an effort to boost the government’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Saturday, March 14th, an economic stimulus plan aimed...more
3/16/2020
/ Caregivers ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employment Policies ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Testing ,
Paid Leave ,
Pending Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Sick Leave ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Unpaid Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety