On May 3, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 2006 (SB 2006) and Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102, immediately suspending all existing city and county emergency COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask and...more
I am amazed at how often business owners are surprised to learn that all employers in California are required to prepare, implement and inform employees about the employer’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Are...more
As states allow businesses to reopen and employers begin returning to the workplace, questions arise regarding the potential liability of employers if employees and consultants contract COVID-19 in the workplace—which might...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increased pressure on health care facilities, and long term care providers specifically, by issuing COVID-19-related citations and initiating COVID-19-related...more
On July 24, 2020, California released the Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening. The Employer Playbook provides detailed information for employers in an easy-to-read checklist format. The majority of the document is...more
On July 15th, Virginia approved temporary emergency workplace safety standards related to COVID-19, making it the first state in the nation to do so. While final language has yet to be approved, the standards are expected to...more
As most employers know, the EEOC has confirmed employers may implement processes to take employee's temperatures before allowing them to enter the workplace during the pandemic. State and local governments in over twenty...more
Companies face a daunting challenge to reassure and regain trust and integrity with employees. CEOs should view the current situation as an opportunity to improve a company’s culture by building on the company’s trust and...more
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new publication entitled Guidance on Returning to Work. The Guidance contains recommendations regarding best practices for employers...more
FDA issued new guidance on June 19, 2020, advising manufacturers of drugs, biologics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) on manufacturing controls to prevent contamination of drugs with SARS-CoV-2, including...more
Many businesses are anxious to resume operations after closing or scaling back because of COVID-19. However, trends in North Carolina COVID-19 diagnoses and hospitalizations show that the pandemic is still very much an issue....more
Fenwick’s employment practices group has compiled the following checklist setting forth key considerations and emerging best practices that businesses should take into account when formulating a plan for employees’ return to...more
OSHA and the CDC have each recently issued new guidance for employers as more and more employees make their way back to on-site work following the COVID-19 shutdown. Here are a few tips to consider to ensure that you are...more
On 8 May 2020, the Ministry of Labour published a National Protocol for Employers to Ensure the Health and Safety of the Employees after the End of the Lockdown (the “National Protocol”).The National Protocol contains...more
On 10 May 2020, the UK Government outlined its plans to enable certain sectors in England to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have continued the...more
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (the OHS) was signed into law in 1970 and established the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), as part of the U.S. Department of Labor. Under the so-called "general...more
Employees concerned about their workplace safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic recently filed a legal action against their employer (Smithfield Foods) seeking a court order that would require the company to comply with Centers...more
Germany is slowly breathing again — albeit through protective masks for the mouth and nose. The federal and state governments have begun to relax the strict restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis and have...more
Governor Sununu: certain industries to reopen business throughout the month of May - Governor Sununu’s Stay at Home 2.0, Executive Order 40 permits certain industries to reopen business throughout the month of May. This...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced employers across the country to rapidly make numerous and significant decisions about how to manage their business in this unprecedented time. Employers have had to quickly develop and...more
On 11 May 2020, the UK government published its COVID-19 Recovery Plan that sets out its proposal to exit the COVID-19 lockdown. Under the Recovery Plan, employees who can work from home should continue to do so, however...more
As employers look to bring their workforces back to the workplace, they face a range of new guidance, regulations, statutes and orders issued by federal, state and local governments and agencies. Employers will need to assess...more
The EEOC continues to update its pandemic preparedness guidance regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and other Equal Employment Opportunity laws in the wake of COVID-19. The guidance...more
Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and its development into a global pandemic, organizations have been implementing exceptional measures to safeguard the health of employees, customers and others. Organizations are also...more