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Feb 03 2022
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: COVID-19 temporary worker housing rules updated, 1/21/22

On January 21, 2022, Washington's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Department of Health (DOH) made updates to the existing COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety rules for temporary worker housing (TWH) in the agriculture industry. This is the fifth set of modifications since the rules were originally adopted in May 2020. Here are the changes: Cloth face coverings…

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Feb 03 2022
DisabilityWashington

WASHINGTON: Long-term care premium tax delayed to July 2023

On January 27, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee signed Substitute House Bill 1732, delaying the implementation of Washington state’s long-term care premium tax from January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2023. As we previously reported, mounting opposition to the program caused Governor Inslee to announce a delay in late December 2021. However, in a subsequent press…

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Feb 03 2022
Affirmative ActionCOVID-19

Nationwide federal contractor vaccine ruling limited to shots

The federal district court in Georgia that issued a nationwide temporary hold on the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate in December 2021 recently clarified that its ruling was limited to vaccinations only, and not the other portions of the mandate, which address masks, physical distancing, and designation of a COVID-19 coordinator (Georgia v. Biden,…

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Jan 20 2022
COVID-19Safety and Health

CMS issues guidance on health care vaccine mandate

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for COVID-19 (coronavirus), it’s time for covered entities to dig into the guidance and complete any compliance steps. In order to assist the regulated community with compliance, CMS has issued guidance for the first 25 states subject to…

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Jan 20 2022
COVID-19Safety and HealthWorkers’ Comp

Q&A: Keep on top of COVID-19 protocols

Question: As we enter this new phase of the pandemic, it seems like everyone is going to get sick. With the vaccination mandate effectively dead, do we need to care anymore? Answer: Yes! It’s been a long haul, and pandemic fatigue is real, but employers still have an obligation to monitor and manage COVID-19 (coronavirus)…

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Jan 20 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaDisability

CALIFORNIA: Masks required indoors through Feb. 15, 2022

On January 5, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) extended its order requiring everyone to wear masks in indoor public settings regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus). The original statewide order was set to end on January 15, 2022, but will now stay in effect through February 15, 2022. CDPH…

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Jan 20 2022
Wage and Hour

Q&A: Assess pay for time spent logging into online time clocks

Question: I have a remote employee asking if he’s going to be paid for the time it takes to log into our timekeeping software. This seems ridiculous. It only takes him a few minutes—if that—each day. Do we have to pay for this time? Answer: If his work depends on his computer use and he’s…

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Jan 20 2022
COVID-19Safety and Health

States back off from issuing general vaccine mandates

The states of Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington have all indicated that they don’t currently plan to proceed with their own general workplace vaccine mandates in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to maintain the temporary stay on the federal OSHA COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for employers with 100 or more…

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Jan 13 2022
COVID-19Safety and Health

ALERT: Supreme Court says no to OSHA vaccine mandate, yes to CMS

On January 13, 2022 the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions on two federal COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandates, one against and one in favor. The court temporarily halted enforcement of OSHA’s emergency temporary standard for employers with 100 or more employees and upheld the enforcement of the rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services…

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Jan 06 2022
COVID-19California

CALIFORNIA: February 1 booster deadline for health care workers

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced new COVID-19 (coronavirus) booster requirements, calling for health care workers and all employees in high-risk congregate settings, including nursing homes, to receive their vaccine booster shots by February 1, 2022. In the meantime, health care workers who haven’t yet received their boosters must test twice weekly. The announcement from the…

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Jan 06 2022
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: COVID-19 workplace rules modified and loosened

On December 21, 2021, Oregon OSHA adopted minor changes to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) rules for all indoor workplaces as well as for employer-provided labor housing. They took effect immediately. Changes to the rules for all Oregon workplaces include the following: Physical distancing requirements have been eliminated, except in health care and transit settings.   Employers…

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Jan 06 2022
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: Governor says long-term care deductions begin Jan. 1

On December 23, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee clarified that employer deductions from employees’ wages under Washington’s Long Term Care Act are required by law to begin January 1, 2022, except for workers who purchased their own insurance and successfully applied for an exemption. Just a few days earlier, he had announced that he was “pausing”…

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