UPDATE: Following its original announcement, the CDC further updated its guidance to apply the 5 day quarantine rule to those who are asymptomatic but now also to those whose symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24...more
The CDC announced changes on December 27, 2021 to its isolation and quarantine period recommendations for those who test positive or are exposed to COVID-19. Our guidance for the workplace follows.
Updated CDC Guidance...more
12/29/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Enforcement ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
SCOTUS ,
Sick Employees ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The New York City Council passed a bill which would amend the New York City Human Rights Law and require employers to state the minimum and maximum salary for any position located in New York City. This applies to job...more
The updated guidance now states that NYC employers must comply with its vaccine order regardless of whether the OSHA vaccine order becomes effective.
The guidance originally stated that “[c]overed entities or...more
As expected, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on whether OSHA may proceed with its Vaccine Order for large employers. The Court will hold a special hearing on January 7, 2022. Briefings are due by December 30, 2021. The...more
New York City has released its anticipated vaccine order for private businesses alongside a workplace vaccine requirement webpage containing interpretative guidance and other helpful links. The new vaccine order generally...more
12/16/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Exemptions ,
New York ,
OSHA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety ,
World Health Organization
Effective May 7, 2022, all New York employers will be required to provide notice to employees of any employer monitoring of work phones, emails, or Internet use. This new law amends the New York Civil Rights Law (a law...more
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that will apply to all private employers in New York City. The Mayor announced the mandate as a “first in the nation measure,” and a “preemptive strike” in...more
UPDATE: A federal appeals court (the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals) permanently blocked OSHA’s vaccine rule on November 12, 2021, citing to “serious constitutional concerns” with the rule. This is not the end of the...more
11/30/2021
/ Appeals ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Enforcement ,
Health and Safety ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
New York has greatly expanded its “whistleblower” law. The amendments to New York Labor Law §740 go into effect on January 26, 2022 and undoubtedly enhance employee protections and require New York employers to take certain...more
The Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has released its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) pertaining to workplace COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for employers with 100 or...more
11/5/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Rules ,
OSHA ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has published guidance regarding employee cannabis use. We previously reported on the amendments to New York’s off-duty conduct law—New York Labor Law Section 201-D—which now...more
11/4/2021
/ Cannabis Products ,
Drug Testing ,
Employee Training ,
Employment Policies ,
New Guidance ,
NYDOL ,
Proprietary Information ,
Recreational Use ,
State Labor Laws ,
Trade Secrets ,
Workplace Safety
The EEOC has updated its technical guidance and answers in a document entitled What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws. The updated guidance adds six religious...more
10/28/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
EEO ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Guidance Update ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Rehabilitation Act ,
Religious Exemption ,
SCOTUS ,
Title VII ,
Undue Hardship ,
Vaccinations
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (the “Departments”) recently issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions—FAQs About Affordable Act Implementation, Part 50, Health Insurance Portability and...more
10/13/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VI ,
Title VII ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Vaccinations
The Biden Administration, via its Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (the “Task Force”), has now provided the guidance with which federal contractor and subcontractors must comply in connection with their contracts and...more
10/5/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Contact Tracing ,
Contract Terms ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Subcontractors ,
Vaccinations
...The New York State Commissioner of Health has designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.” This means that the HERO Act’s many requirements...more
Imposing Group Health Plan Monthly Surcharges on the Unvaccinated -
Calling it “a more-punitive approach toward getting its workforce vaccinated against Covid-19,” the Wall Street Journal recently reported that Delta...more
9/16/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Surcharges ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Wellness Programs
The Biden Administration yesterday unveiled its Path out of the Pandemic – a six-pronged plan designed to further combat COVID-19. Employers have already struggled to deal with the bevy of ever-changing COVID-19...more
9/14/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Privately Held Corporations ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
The New York State Commissioner of Health has designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.” This means that the HERO Act’s many requirements are...more
The NYC Commission on Human Rights (the Commission) has released updated enforcement guidance regarding the Fair Chance Act. New York City amended the Fair Chance Act last year and those changes will go into effect on July...more
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has released its HERO Act minimum standards and template policies related to airborne infectious disease prevention. Employers now have 30 days after the standards’ publication...more
It’s been a long road to recovery for employers since New York first issued its NY Forward reopening requirements for offices and other similar environments back in May 2020. Today, as New York reached a key vaccination...more
It’s been a busy month (year?) for New York employers – one that has brought several important updates with respect to employers’ reopening plans. On the heels of the State’s May 19th adoption of the recent CDC guidance...more
This post was revised on May 19, 2021 to reflect relevant updates.
On May 5, 2021, New York enacted the Health and Essential Rights Act (the “HERO Act”). The new law seeks to address continued COVID-19 safety concerns in...more
The CDC’s recent guidance suggesting that most fully vaccinated individuals may discontinue certain safety measures, such as masking and social distancing, has created significant confusion for employers navigating...more