Question of the Month
Q&A: Does compliance with workers’ comp satisfy FMLA obligations?
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News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp
Jun
03
2021
CALIFORNIA: Santa Clara County says to check vaccination status
On May 18, 2021, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department issued an order that requires businesses in the county to check all workers’ COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccination status. The order took effect on May 19, 2021. For anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated, you must check back at least every 14 days to see if…
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Jun
03
2021
CALIFORNIA: L.A. County requires paid leave for COVID vaccinations
On May 18, 2021, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring employers in unincorporated areas of the county to provide up to four hours of paid leave to employees who need time off related to receiving the COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine. The ordinance took effect immediately but…
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Jun
03
2021
WASHINGTON: Worker housing rules updated for vaccinated occupants
On May 28, 2021, Washington's Departments of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Health updated the existing COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety rules for temporary worker housing (TWH) in the agriculture industry to lift certain restrictions for fully vaccinated workers. These revisions coincide with updated agriculture workplace requirements issued by Governor Jay Inslee, adding exceptions for fully vaccinated…
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Jun
03
2021
Q&A: Understand vaccine exceptions to quarantine requirements
Question: If our state is “reopened” for business, do we still have to comply with quarantine requirements after an employee is exposed to someone with COVID-19 (coronavirus)? What if the employee is fully vaccinated? Answer: The lifting of restrictions on businesses’ ability to operate is separate from your obligation as an employer to comply with…
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Jun
03
2021
OSHA won’t require recording vaccine side effects after all
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently updated its guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines to state that it won’t enforce recordkeeping requirements for worker side effects from mandatory vaccines through May 2022. As we previously reported, OSHA had stated that side effects resulting from employer-mandated COVID-19 vaccines may be…
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May
24
2021
WASHINGTON: Governor grants worker protections related to COVID-19
On May 21, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 21-08 “Safe Workers,” which prohibits Washington employers from taking any adverse employment action as a result of a worker receiving a COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine or needing time off related to the worker’s own COVID-19 vaccination, exposure, or illness. Time off to take a family member…
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May
24
2021
WASHINGTON: New mask options for fully vaccinated workers
On May 21, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced new workplace mask options in line with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s May 13, 2021, guidance, which said people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) generally don’t need to wear masks or physically…
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May
20
2021
NAM’s yellow and red ribbon pins show who’s fully vaccinated
Looking for a visible way employees can show they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus)? The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is sponsoring the production of lapel pins showing entwined yellow and red ribbons. The web page for NAM’s Yellow and Red Ribbon Initiative includes sample posters and emails for employers to encourage…
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May
20
2021
Q&A: Do vaccine incentives have to be included in OT calculations?
Question: We want to offer a cash incentive to our employees who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 (coronavirus) in order to encourage vaccination rates in our workforce, but we don’t want to recalculate the employee’s “regular rate” for overtime. What can we do? Answer: You’re in luck! The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) updated its COVID-19…
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May
20
2021
CALIFORNIA: Cal/OSHA to revise proposal on masks and vaccines
According to news reports, the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) will delay consideration of revisions to Cal/OSHA's COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for non-health care workplaces until Cal/OSHA has an opportunity to consider the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)'s relaxed mask guidance for fully vaccinated workers. The OSHSB was scheduled to consider…
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