Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Showing posts by Karen Davis

Photo of Karen Davis
Jan 06 2022
Affirmative Action  

“Ban the box” restrictions apply to new federal contracts

Federal contractors must wait to ask applicants about criminal convictions until making a conditional job offer, beginning with any federal contracts resulting from solicitations issued after December 20, 2021. We previously reported on the federal law that established this “ban the box” requirement for federal contractors. It's part of the “Fair Chance to Compete…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 20 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health  

OSHA vaccine mandate is back on for employers with 100+ employees

On December 17, 2021, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary legal hold on the OSHA COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for employers with 100 or more employees. This means that OSHA’s regulation requiring employees of covered employers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing is…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 16 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health  

CALIFORNIA: Masks required indoors regardless of vaccination status

On December 13, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order requiring people to wear masks in all indoor public settings from December 15, 2021, through January 15, 2022, regardless of whether they’re vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus). The new order temporarily overrides the exception in Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 emergency temporary…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 16 2021
COVID-19  

Foreign workers crossing U.S. borders will have to prove vaccination

According to the Department of Homeland Security, sometime in January 2022, foreign workers seeking to enter the U.S. through ports of entry on land or at ferry terminals will have to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (coronavirus). Currently, workers engaged in essential travel, such as truck drivers transporting commercial…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 16 2021
Affirmative ActionHarassment & Discrimination  

Security services contractor to pay $1,175,000 after OFCCP audit

AlliedBarton Security Services LLC agreed to pay $1,175,000 in back pay and interest to resolve allegations of pay discrimination uncovered during a routine affirmative action audit by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The OFCCP found pay disparities based on race and gender among employees in unarmed security…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 07 2021
Affirmative ActionCOVID-19  

ALERT: Nationwide hold placed on federal contractor vaccine mandate

On December 7, 2021 a federal district court in Georgia issued a nationwide order prohibiting enforcement of the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate until a full hearing can be held. A coalition of states, governors, state agencies, and a construction industry trade association had sued to stop the federal…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 02 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health  

OREGON Q&A: N95s used for source control aren’t PPE

Question: We’re thinking of requiring employees who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) to wear an N95 mask at work, but would we have to implement a full respiratory protection program? Answer: No, if your primary reason for requiring an unvaccinated worker to wear a filtering facepiece respirator such as an N95 is for source…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 02 2021
Affirmative ActionCOVID-19  

Federal contractor vaccine mandate on hold in 3 states

A federal district court in Kentucky has issued a preliminary order that places the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate on hold in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Until a full hearing can be held, the court prohibited the federal government from enforcing the vaccine mandate on federal contractors in these…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 02 2021
COVID-19  

Nationwide orders put Medicare and Medicaid vaccine mandate on hold

Two federal district courts have issued preliminary orders that will prevent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from enforcing its regulation requiring workers in most health care settings that receive reimbursements from Medicare or Medicaid to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus). CMS issued its rule on November 5, 2021,…

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Photo of Karen Davis
Dec 02 2021
Affirmative ActionDisability  

Federal contractors must certify AAP compliance by June 30, 2022

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has announced that employers with federal supply or service contracts/subcontracts will be required to annually certify that they have developed written affirmative action plans (AAPs), with an initial deadline of June 30, 2022. The certification requirements apply to employers who are already…

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