In June, 2021, Philadelphia’s previous public health emergency leave mandate expired. However, on March 9, 2022, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed a new bill extending COVID-19 paid sick leave to certain eligible...more
This episode features a discussion of the current array of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates: their effectiveness and requirements, the scope of their coverage, and what employers should consider in responding to them....more
12/6/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
As we previously reported here, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation conducted a lottery to determine which of the thirteen federal appeals courts would hear the consolidated cases challenging the...more
Summary -
The Biden Administration has announced vaccine mandates for certain federal contractors and subcontractors, employees of large, private employers, and certain health care workers, all of which are slated to take...more
11/11/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (”OSHA”) has issued its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that each worker be fully vaccinated, or subject to...more
On September 7, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed a lawsuit claiming an employer discriminated against disabled employees by failing to provide workplace accommodations related to COVID-19....more
Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) substantially augmented its technical assistance questions and answers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the application of the Americans with Disabilities...more
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order 242, removing many of the state’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions. This Executive Order recognizes the marked progress New...more
On Friday, May 7, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech filed an application seeking full approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for patients age 16 and up. Pfizer is the first...more
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division just launched a new initiative called “Essential Workers, Essential Protections” that provides workers with information about the wage and hour laws that...more
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act. At $1.9 trillion, it is the second largest stimulus bill in legislative history. The ARP includes labor-related spending initiatives important to both...more
Summary -
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) is the second largest stimulus bill in legislative history and includes labor-related spending initiatives, an extension of unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies, an...more
As previously reported here, President Biden directed the Small Business Administration (SBA) to impose an exclusive two-week window where only the smallest businesses – those with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors...more
On today’s episode we discuss a key issue presented by the coming COVID-19 vaccines: whether employers can or should mandate vaccination, what limitations might exist on an employer’s ability to do so, and other...more
On August 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new Field Assistance Bulletin, reminding employers that they must use reasonable diligence to track and pay for all hours worked while employees are working...more
On July 14, 2020, Governor Jared Polis signed into law the Healthy Families and Workplace Act (HFWA), and Colorado joined the growing number of states and cities that require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many...more
On June 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin changing the DOL’s typical practice of seeking liquidated damages in settlements in lieu of litigation. Specifically, Field Assistance...more
6/26/2020
/ Back Wages ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Field Assistance Bulletins ,
Liquidated Damages ,
New Guidance ,
Relief Measures ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour
Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-74 continues the process of reopening Minnesota in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Signed June 5, the Order took effect on June 10 and provides guidance on the process for reopening...more
The New York Court of Appeals recently affirmed the decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board that Postmates couriers should be classified as employees, not independent contractors, for purposes of unemployment...more
As states “re-open”—or prepare to—many businesses have begun to consider how they will ensure that their workplaces are safe for employees, customers, and other visitors. Keeping their sites clean is among companies’ chief...more
No employer is immune from the storm of legislation Congress has passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more
Emergency Rules Related to Provision of Unemployment Insurance -
On March 19, 2020, in response to COVID-19, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) passed numerous emergency rules, mandating that Georgia employers file...more
The Utah Department of Workforce Services (Department) has released a FAQ regarding the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment insurance for Utahans....more
Executive Order 20-05 -
On March 16, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-05, providing immediate relief to both employers and employees who have been affected by COVID-19. ...more
In a continuing battle to limit the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state, on Sunday, April 12, Governor Murphy issued another order, Executive Order 125, implementing additional requirements for restaurants, bars,...more