On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 553 into law, creating a new layer to California employers’ existing injury and illness prevention programs (IIPP). Under SB 553, employers are required to...more
On October 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Senate Bill No. 525 (SB 525) into law. Effective June 1, 2024, the law raises the minimum wage for California healthcare employees and sets a new salary...more
On December 19, 2022, the New Jersey Senate passed Assembly Bill No. 4768 (A-4768), which, when effective, will implement a drastic expansion to New Jersey’s Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act (NJ WARN...more
1/12/2023
/ Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Labor Reform ,
Layoff Notices ,
Layoffs ,
New Jersey ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Severance Pay ,
State Labor Laws ,
WARN Act
On November 16, 2022, New Jersey Senate Bill No. 315 (S-315) went into effect, providing new employment protections to eligible employees of certain private healthcare entities that undergo a “change in control.” The law...more
1/12/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Buyers ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Healthcare ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Jersey ,
New Legislation ,
New Rules ,
Sellers
Effective January 1, 2023, California employers must comply with the requirements of Senate Bill 1162 ( SB 1162)—California’s pay transparency law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Among other...more
10/3/2022
/ California ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Governor Newsom ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Code ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Rates ,
Pay Transparency ,
Salary/Wage History ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On August 11, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled its updated COVID-19 guidelines, revising both quarantine and isolation guidelines in the process. The updates reflect the growing number of...more
Effective August 10, 2022, Colorado’s laws governing restrictive covenants shall be amended to provide additional limitations and hurdles for employers who seek non-compete and non-solicit agreements with their employees,...more
8/10/2022
/ Colorado ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Highly Compensated Employees ,
Labor Law Violations ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Notice Requirements ,
Penalties ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State Labor Laws
On February 28, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom extended the second readoption of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Cal/OSHA) COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) currently...more
4/18/2022
/ Amended Rules ,
Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Governor Newsom ,
Masks ,
State and Local Government ,
Time Extensions ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The courts continue to move the vaccine mandate goalposts on employers as dozens of legal challenges work their way through the courts. The latest developments are major game changers for employers. As of the publishing of...more
On December 6, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all New York City employers, regardless of size, will be required to impose COVID-19 vaccination mandates on all employees (subject to legally protected...more
On November 4, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect employees of large employers in all industries from COVID-19. The Centers for...more
11/5/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On September 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (the Task Force) issued its initial guidance (the Guidance) for federal contractor COVID-19 safety mandates. The Guidance was issued pursuant to US President Joe...more
9/28/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Masks ,
Remote Working ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Social Distancing ,
Subcontractors ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On September 9, 2021, US President Joe Biden announced a multipronged plan to increase the number of Americans who are vaccinated for COVID-19. In the plan, titled “Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action...more
9/27/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Branch ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
On July 26, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a new Order that impacts healthcare and state employers in California. The CDPH Order requires that almost all healthcare employers verify the...more
7/29/2021
/ California ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Required Documentation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Employees ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
On July 27, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its COVID-19 mask guidance, recommending that fully vaccinated individuals should wear a mask in indoor public spaces if they are located in areas of...more
Can employers offer incentives for employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine? In short, yes. Incentives may take many forms, such as a one-time bonus, a gift card or a few extra vacation hours. Employers can get creative. ...more
7/28/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Incentives ,
IRS ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations
On July 15, 2021, the Supreme Court of California issued a long-awaited decision in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC. The Court reversed the trial and appellate court holdings and concluded that California employers must...more
7/19/2021
/ Appellate Courts ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Compensation ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Labor Regulations ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Can an employer mandate or incentivize a COVID-19 vaccination? If so, what exceptions or exclusions apply? As COVID-19 vaccines have become increasingly available in the United States, and with new Centers for Disease Control...more
6/8/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Confidential Information ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Incentives ,
New Guidance ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations
On March 19, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 95 (SB95), significantly expanding California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (CSPSL). This latest legislation now requires any California...more
3/25/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employees ,
Covered Employer ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Governor Newsom ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
Retroactivity ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Supplemental Benefits ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Statements
On March 8, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people in non-healthcare settings. The new recommendations detail (1) how...more
With the health outlook uncertain and the vaccination process months away from completion, many companies that shifted to remote work environments during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic still have employees working...more
2/25/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Furloughs ,
Paid Leave ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Remote Working ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Resource Guide ,
Restrictive Covenants
Yes, an employer can implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, subject to some conditions and exceptions.
A mandatory vaccine policy must be job-related, consistent with business necessity or justified by a direct...more
12/23/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Exemption ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Wrongful Termination
On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its first direct guidance for employers regarding COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The EEOC is...more
12/17/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Documentation ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Exceptions ,
GINA ,
New Guidance ,
Proof of Use ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Exemption ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations
On September 17, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 685 into law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2021. The law does two things: (1) it creates an enforceable statewide standard for how employers handle...more
9/23/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Newsom ,
Public Health ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Safety Violations ,
Sick Employees ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Workplace Outbreaks ,
Workplace Safety ,
Written Notice