#WorkforceWednesday: OSHA’s Three-Phase Plan, COVID-19 Workplace Training, Virginia’s Seismic Shift - Employment Law This Week®
On May 25, 2021, Alberta released its Open for Summer Plan (Opening Plan), which eases COVID-19 restrictions in three stages. Each stage is reached as COVID-19 vaccination targets are reached and hospitalizations decline. ...more
On January 22, 2021, after two months of stringent lockdown orders (released 11/15/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/18/2020, & 1/13/2021), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a new epidemic order...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In response to increasing COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker issued COVID-19 Order No. 59, which will impose temporary capacity limitations on businesses and gatherings. ...more
On December 18, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an emergency epidemic order rolling back some of the restrictions previously in place for Michigan businesses. The most significant...more
Effective Monday, October 5, Massachusetts begins Step 2 of Phase 3 of reopening via Order 51 in lower-risk communities, defined as cities and towns that have not been a “red” community in any of the last three weekly...more
Governor Ned Lamont recently announced details of Connecticut’s plan to move to Phase 3 of reopening amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 3, which is scheduled to take effect on Thursday, October 8, 2020, will relax some...more
Maryland Governor Hogan moved the state into Stage Three of its reopening plan on September 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. in Order 20-09-01-01. This move permits practically all Maryland businesses to open, including theaters. ...more
Governor Larry Hogan announced that Maryland will enter Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan effective September 4, 2020. Under Phase 3, all previously closed business may re-open, subject to certain limitations. Movie...more
Due to the plateau of COVID-19 cases in Michigan, on September 3, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-176 to “carefully and deliberately relax some restrictions.”...more
Government officials across the country are easing up on the stringent business closures and stay at home orders that helped the nation slow the spread of COVID-19 earlier in the year. Each jurisdiction will emerge from this...more
As employers begin to develop and implement plans for reopening and staff return to the workplace, they should be mindful of industry-specific requirements and guidance, which may apply where they operate. ...more
In the world before the COVID-19 pandemic, business travel was a critical function for countless employees in a wide range of industries. Since the onset of the pandemic, and the attendant changes to otherwise normal...more
As restaurants and bars struggle to remain viable in the midst of the pandemic, they are confronted with the additional threat of lawsuits by employees and customers. Restaurants and bars should take steps now, both to...more
On April 27, 2020, Ontario released a Framework for Reopening Our Province. This Framework contemplates the gradual reopening of the province in three stages, with each stage lasting for approximately two-to-four weeks to...more
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the District would move into Phase Two of its reopening plan on June 22, 2020. Maryland has also expanded Stage Two of its reopening plan....more
The government has announced that on 4 July 2020, it will commence the third stage of its plan to ease the 'lockdown' restrictions implemented in England due to COVID-19. Following the reopening of 'non-essential retail...more
Governor Scott announced last Friday a further easing of restrictions and updates to the – “New Work Safe Additions to the Be Smart, Stay Safe Order” issued by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. ...more
As all four regions of the State of Illinois work toward entering Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan on June 26, 2020, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released new guidelines to help businesses and other activities safely...more
On June 19, Governor Wolf announced that 12 of the remaining 13 counties in the Commonwealth’s Yellow phase of reopening will be eligible to move into the Green phase this coming Friday, June 26....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Massachusetts will move to the second step of Phase II of the State’s reopening plan beginning yesterday, June 22. Updated COVID-19 guidance issued by the Baker Administration increases office occupancy...more
On June 13, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 154 (“EO 154”), permitting the reopening of “personal care service facilities,” at 6:00 a.m. on June 22, 2020, provided the facilities comply with...more
On Thursday, June 18, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a pamphlet with “guidance to assist employers and workers in safely returning to work and reopening businesses deemed by local...more
On June 15, 2020, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced a modification to the state’s reopening plan to allow restaurants in Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York counties to open for indoor dining. ...more
On June 7, 2020, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) released guidelines for businesses allowed to reopen during Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. As of June...more
Many states and localities have issued stay-at-home orders, and have closed on-site business operations to all but essential businesses and their employees. To enable employers to navigate those restrictions, we provide below...more