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Nov 15 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health

ALERT: OSHA COVID-19 vaccine mandate on hold for now

On November 12, 2021, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered federal OSHA not to implement or enforce its COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) until a full judicial hearing can be held. As we previously reported, OSHA published the ETS on November 5, 2021, requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure…

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Nov 04 2021
ArizonaCaliforniaIdaho

Q&A: Know how to respond to positive COVID-19 result

Question: My employee says they tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). There have been so many changes to the requirements that I’m not sure what I should do anymore. Please help! Answer: Start with current federal guidance and then check your state and local requirements. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web page on Quarantine and…

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Nov 04 2021
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

Cal/OSHA updates FAQs on quarantine for unvaccinated workers

Cal/OSHA recently updated the FAQs for its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to allow a shortened quarantine period for unvaccinated workers who are exposed to the virus. The ETS, which took effect on June 17, 2021, requires most unvaccinated workers who are exposed to COVID-19 (coronavirus) to quarantine for at least 10 days to see…

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Nov 04 2021
COVID-19California

CALIFORNIA: Health care vaccine mandate expands to more workers

On September 28, 2021, California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order expanding mandatory COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines in the health care industry to include workers in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings. The order, Adult Care Facilities and Direct Care Worker Vaccine Requirement, says these workers must receive their final…

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Nov 04 2021
COVID-19DisabilityLeave Laws

ALERT: OSHA releases vaccine mandate for employers with 100+ workers

November 4, 2021 OSHA announced its long-awaited COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS), directing employers with 100 or more employees to require their employees to be vaccinated or else submit to weekly testing. The official rule will be effective immediately upon its publication on November 5, 2021, but covered employers will have 30 days (i.e., until…

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Nov 04 2021
Affirmative ActionCOVID-19Disability

More questions answered on federal contractor vaccine mandate

On November 1, 2021, new FAQs for federal contractors subject to President Biden’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate (Executive Order 14042) appeared on the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force website. Here are some highlights from the FAQs: Pending accommodation requests: It’s okay if you’re still reviewing requests for accommodation due to disabilities or sincerely held religious…

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Oct 28 2021
Vigilant NewsWebinar

12/2 WEBINAR RECORDING: Where are my employees?! How to fix five modern attendance dilemmas.

Even before COVID-19 completely changed traditional work practices, reliable employee attendance was a challenge. Jobs—whether remote or not—require time spent on task. However, Millennial and Gen Z employees want to work when they want and where they want. And new state and federal laws give employees more time off of work for medical, military, civic,…

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Oct 21 2021
Affirmative ActionHarassment & DiscriminationWage and Hour

OFCCP rushes to extract settlements at close of FY 2021

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) raced to secure financial settlements from federal contractors at the close of the agency’s 2021 fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2021. After conducting routine affirmative action audits of selected companies, the OFCCP alleged discriminatory practices in compensation and hiring. Each of the companies below agreed…

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Oct 21 2021
COVID-19Safety and Health

Still waiting on federal OSHA COVID-19 ETS

According to news reports, federal OSHA submitted its draft COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) to the Office of Management and Budget on October 12, 2021. As we previously reported, President Biden ordered OSHA to draft the ETS, requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure workers are vaccinated or tested regularly for COVID-19….

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Oct 21 2021
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: Seattle and SeaTac increase minimum wages in 2022

The minimum wage in both Seattle and SeaTac will exceed $17.00 an hour as of January 1, 2022. The City of Seattle is increasing its minimum wage requirement to $17.27 per hour for most employers. Seattle’s minimum wage rates apply to all non-exempt employees for all hours they work within the city limits. The specific…

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Oct 21 2021
COVID-19DisabilityPrivacy & Confidentiality

Q&A: HIPAA doesn’t apply to employee information

Question: We implemented a mandatory COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine policy for all employees. Some employees are refusing to produce proof of vaccination status because they believe they have the right to refuse under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We’re a private employer operating a manufacturing facility. Does HIPAA apply to us? Answer: No….

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Oct 07 2021
COVID-19Leave Laws

Voluntary FFCRA and associated tax credits end

As of September 30, 2021, tax credits are no longer available for employers who have been voluntarily complying with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) since the beginning of the year. In March 2020, former President Trump signed the FFCRA, which required employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide Emergency Family and Medical…

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