Jun 02 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

WASHINGTON: COVID-19 temporary worker housing rules updated 5/20

On May 20, 2022, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Department of Health (DOH) made yet another update to the emergency COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety rules for temporary worker housing (TWH) in the agriculture industry. The rules took effect immediately. Here are the important changes: Education on exposure and testing positive: The previous version of the rules required…

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May 05 2022

COVID-19Hiring  

Form I-9 remote inspection extended again, until October 31, 2022

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has again extended its temporary relaxation of the standards for physically inspecting a new worker’s employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9. This extension of the relaxed standard now expires on October 31, 2022. As we originally reported, DHS relaxed the requirement for employers operating remotely and unable to physically inspect…

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Apr 07 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

WASHINGTON: COVID-19 temporary rule renewed through August 4, 2022

On April 6, 2022, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) filed its emergency workplace safety rule to address COVID-19 (coronavirus), which is now effective through August 4, 2022. The prior rule expired on April 6, 2022. The updated rule (Public Health Emergency Reporting and Notification Requirements for Infectious and…

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Apr 07 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

OREGON: COVID-19 rules scaled back for general industry

On March 18, 2022, Oregon OSHA updated its Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks (OAR 437-001-0744), eliminating some requirements for general workplaces, making some provisions merely recommended, and continuing nearly all of the requirements for “exceptional risk” workplaces (such as health care settings). Our Legal Guide, At a Glance: COVID-19 Compliance in Oregon has…

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Apr 07 2022

COVID-19Hiring  

Expired Form I-9 List B documents unacceptable as of May 1, 2022

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ending its COVID-19 temporary policy that allowed employers to accept List B identity documents that expired on or after March 1, 2020. Effective May 1, 2022, you must only accept unexpired List B identity documents for completing Form I-9. If an employee…

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Mar 17 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

COVID-19 protocols decreasing but not gone yet

California, Oregon, and Washington’s workplace mandates related to COVID-19 (coronavirus) are being whittled away but continue to evolve, so we’ve captured a high-level overview in three new Legal Guides, entitled “At a Glance: COVID-19 Compliance” in California, Oregon, and Washington. Two recent developments in California and Oregon are of particular note: In California, Executive Order N-5-22…

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Mar 03 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

West coast states ending indoor mask requirements

California, Oregon, and Washington are ending indoor mask requirements this month for most situations. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that starting March 1, 2022, masks are no longer required for unvaccinated individuals in public indoor spaces and starting March 12, 2022, masks will no longer be required in schools. Oregon…

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Mar 03 2022

COVID-19Safety and Health  

OREGON: No more quarantine after exposure as of March 12, 2022

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has announced that quarantining after exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus) will no longer be necessary for the general population, including K-12 and childcare settings, beginning on March 12, 2022. OHA will continue to recommend quarantining in high-risk settings, such as health care settings, correctional facilities, and…

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Mar 03 2022

COVID-19Leave Laws  

CALIFORNIA: FAQs published for 2022 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

The California Labor Commissioner has published updated FAQs about the COVID-19 2022 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) law, which applies to employers with 26 or more employees. As we previously reported, the 2022 SPSL law (SB 114) took effect on February 19, 2022, requiring covered employers to provide SPSL to…

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Feb 17 2022

COVID-19Leave Laws  

Q&A: Don’t be too hasty in deciding time off request is fraudulent

Question: One our employees called in sick, saying he had COVID-19 (coronavirus) symptoms. We approved the sick day. His coworker showed us a video of the “sick” employee on a road trip. He lied to us! Can we fire him? Answer: Be careful when questions arise about the legitimacy of an employee’s request for time…

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