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
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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May
20
2021
WASHINGTON: New bill amends WISHA’s anti-retaliation provision
On May 11, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed ESHB 1097, amending the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act’s (WISHA) anti-retaliation provision by explicitly prohibiting acts that would deter reasonable employees from exercising their rights under the Act and expanding the time for filing a workplace safety complaint with the Department of…
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May
19
2021
ALERT: CDC’s relaxed mask guidance, understand how it applies in your state
Understand how CDC’s relaxed mask guidance applies in your state On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) generally don’t need to wear masks or physically distance with a few exceptions, setting off a flurry of compliance questions for employers. Depending…
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May
18
2021
Lower your work comp premium - do two things first
Question: “What action can we take to lower our upfront workers' comp premium? Where do we even start?” Answer: From Vigilant's VP of Workers' Comp, Dan Beaty. I get asked this question daily. My reply? We're here to help, and here's a hint: high frequency/impact injuries, and a strategic use of kept-on-salary(KOS). To lower upfront cost of premium and…
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May
13
2021
WASHINGTON: New law creates more pandemic worker protections
Several important developments have recently occurred in Washington state. We're addressing the following topics in this post - find the full articles below. New law creates more pandemic worker protections. On May 11, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed ESSB 5115, the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), creating labor standards that automatically take…
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May
06
2021
WASHINGTON: New law requires safety training for temps
Washington governor Jay Inslee has signed a new bill that requires staffing agencies and host employers in manufacturing and construction to coordinate their safety training for temporary workers. The new law, SHB 1206, takes effect July 25, 2021, and applies to temporary workers assigned to industries in sectors 31 through…
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May
06
2021
OSHA says reactions to mandatory vaccines may be recordable
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently posted FAQs stating that if an employee has an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine that was mandated by their employer, the reaction is recordable if it’s a new case and meets the usual criteria for recordable injuries and illnesses. OSHA says…
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