This week, we’re highlighting recent updates across the state and federal employment landscapes, including the New Jersey Supreme Court’s non-disparagement ruling, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) new artificial...more
This week, we’re learning more about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) final rule on safety inspections, new COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and minimum...more
This week, we’re concentrating on the flurry of challenges that federal agencies—such as the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the National Labor Relations Board, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration...more
This week, we look at a range of developments shifting the enforcement approach across federal agencies and how employers can comply with these shifts.
Texas Court Reinstates DOL Independent Contractor Rule
A district...more
3/23/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
Misclassification ,
OFCCP ,
OSHA ,
Safety Inspections ,
Subcontractors ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at how state and local COVID-19 requirements and new COVID-19 benefits are shifting employers’ policies once again.
Employers Respond to SCOTUS OSHA Decision
Employers and government agencies are...more
This week, we’re breaking down what last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on two of the federal vaccine mandate rules will mean for employers.
Supreme Court Blocks OSHA ETS, Upholds CMS Mandate (see video attached)
The...more
1/19/2022
/ Biden v Missouri ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Lack of Authority ,
National Federation of Independent Business v Department of Labor and OSHA ,
OSHA ,
SCOTUS ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at the latest federal rules and guidance on vaccination policies, quarantine periods, and masking.
Updated Status of Federal Vaccine Orders
A very divided Supreme Court heard arguments last Friday...more
1/12/2022
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Injunctions ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Popular ,
Quarantine ,
Sick Employees ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
This week, we’re recapping some of the biggest changes that impacted employers in 2021. We also look ahead to what’s in store in the new year.
A Shift in Labor Policy and Enforcement
The Biden administration is ushering in...more
12/22/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Mobility ,
Employee Privacy Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Regulations ,
Masks ,
NLRB ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
OSHA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Unions ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at the status of the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine rules for employers and the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York State and City.
Federal Vaccine Mandates Paused
All three federal vaccine...more
12/15/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Contractors ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Injunctions ,
New York ,
OSHA ,
Stays ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at complying with the rules that require employers to keep employee COVID-19 vaccination and testing information confidential.
HIPAA, Employee Privacy Protections, and COVID-19 (see video...more
12/8/2021
/ ABC Test ,
Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Privacy Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Independent Contractors ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Misclassification ,
OSHA ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) vaccine emergency temporary standard (ETS) is currently in the hands of the Sixth Circuit, while New York employers have several updates to look out for...more
11/24/2021
/ Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Monitoring ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
NLRB ,
OSHA ,
Retaliation ,
State Labor Laws ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at the next steps large employers and health care providers need to take to comply with vaccine mandate rules applicable to their organizations.
OSHA ETS: Next Steps for Large Employers (see video...more
11/17/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Duty to Bargain ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Masks ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
OSHA ,
Unions ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, the Biden administration has finally released the COVID-19 vaccine mandate rules for employers with 100 or more employees, and the challenges started right away.
Employers Face December, January Vaccine ETS...more
11/10/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employer ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Petition for Review ,
Stays ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, government agencies at both the federal and state level are preparing for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) vaccine emergency temporary standard (ETS).
Employer Anticipation Builds for...more
11/3/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
OSHA ,
Popular ,
Religious Accommodation ,
Religious Exemption ,
Vaccinations ,
Warning Letters ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we review the status of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers to mandate vaccines.
Employers Await White House Decision on OSHA...more
10/20/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employer Mandates ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Governor Abbott ,
Incentives ,
OSHA ,
Popular ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal contractors and how the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is creating a more expansive view of the employment relationship.
Employers Prepare for...more
10/6/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
Joint Employers ,
Misclassification ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
OSHA ,
State Labor Laws ,
Student Athletes ,
Subcontractors ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we update you on recent guidance for and challenges to President Biden’s requirement that employers with 100 or more employees, federal employers and contractors, and health care employers mandate COVID-19...more
9/29/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at significant developments for employers from across the federal government, including at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and...more
9/22/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Litigation ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Regulations ,
OSHA ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Popular ,
Remote Working ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we focus on Biden’s six-pronged action plan towards combating COVID-19, which requires mandatory vaccination programs for a majority of employers.
Biden Announces Employer Vaccine Mandates (see video attached)
On...more
9/15/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Employees ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Private Sector ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
This week, we look at new federal guidance recommending all employees wear masks in the workplace and unique vaccination considerations for unionized workplaces.
OSHA Updates COVID-19 Mask, Vaccination Guidance (see attached...more
8/25/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
NLRA ,
OSHA ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
Welcome to #WorkforceWednesday. This week, we focus on evolving pandemic regulations at both the federal and state levels.
The Evolution of Workplace Pandemic Regulations (see attached video)
Federal agencies and states...more
6/23/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Training ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
High Risk Covid Employees ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Occupational Exposure ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
It's #WorkforceWednesday! This week, we look at the ways in which states are relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and discuss the much-anticipated Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) emergency temporary...more
6/16/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Executive Orders ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
It’s #WorkforceWednesday! This week, we look at the fallout from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) change in guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.
CDC Guidance Causes Uncertainty
In the wake of...more
5/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Paid Leave ,
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Welcome to #WorkforceWednesday??. This week, several COVID-19 vaccine news developments and updates were announced for employers.
Paid Leave Tax Credit for Employers
President Biden recently announced employers that offer...more
4/28/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Incentive Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
OSHA ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Tax Credits ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
Welcome to #WorkforceWednesday. This week, employers continue waiting on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) COVID-19 emergency temporary standard as retaliation claims rise.
Secretary of Labor Puts...more
4/14/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Health and Safety ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Retaliation ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety ,
Wrongful Termination