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Jan 07 2021
COVID-19Hiring

Form I-9 remote inspection extended again, until January 31, 2021

The Department of Homeland Security 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 is the sixth extension of the relaxed standard, which will now expire on January 31, 2021. As we originally reported, Homeland Security relaxed the requirement for…

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Jan 07 2021
Affirmative ActionHarassment & Discrimination

Court halts enforcement of executive order on diversity training

A federal district court has temporarily stopped the federal government nationwide from enforcing Executive Order 13950, Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, to the extent that the order prohibits federal contractors from training their employees on “divisive concepts” related to race and sex discrimination and puts federal grantees at risk of losing their…

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Jan 07 2021
COVID-19Leave Laws

Consolidated Appropriations Act brings changes for employers

President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 into law on December 27, 2020. The enormous new law includes many separate parts, some of which have implications for employers. The highlights of the package include: An extension of the payback period for payroll taxes that employers had the option to defer under the President’s…

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Dec 17 2020
COVID-19Leave Laws

FFCRA paid leaves set to end on December 31, 2020

The emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) and emergency family and medical leave (EFMLA) created under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) are set to end on December 31, 2020. Although Congress continues to work on passing another COVID-19 relief bill, currently there is no provision in any bill to extend the EPSL or the EFMLA….

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Dec 17 2020
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: More new documents released on COVID-19 rule

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) continues to release new documents to help employers comply with its COVID-19 (coronavirus) workplace safety rule. As we previously reported, the rule requires employers to develop and implement certain safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. As of our last publication, Oregon…

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Dec 17 2020
COVID-19DisabilitySafety and Health

EEOC addresses vaccine mandates

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has added a new section to its FAQs on COVID-19 (coronavirus) to address the degree to which employers can require workers to be vaccinated. The publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” addresses considerations under the Americans with…

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Dec 17 2020
ArizonaCaliforniaIdaho

States adopt modified quarantine guidance for COVID-19 exposure

Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana have followed in Washington’s footsteps and adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s new shorter quarantine options either in whole or in part. As we previously reported, the CDC maintains that its prior recommendation of a 14-day quarantine for exposed individuals is still the safest way to…

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Dec 03 2020
COVID-19Safety and Health

CDC modifies quarantine guidance for COVID-19 exposure

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new shorter quarantine options for consideration by local public health authorities on December 2, 2020. The CDC still recommends a 14-day quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus) but says local authorities may shorten that time depending on local conditions. The new options would allow individuals who…

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Dec 03 2020
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: More guidance released on COVID-19 safety rule

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) recently released some new documents to help employers comply with its COVID-19 (coronavirus) workplace safety rule. As we previously reported, the rule requires employers to develop and implement certain safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. On its infectious disease rulemaking webpage,…

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Dec 02 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: Emergency COVID-19 safety rule effective now

California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved a statewide emergency workplace safety regulation addressing COVID-19 (coronavirus), established by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. The approved rule took effect immediately, on November 30, 2020, and will remain in effect until October 2, 2021, according to the Board’s webpage for emergency rulemaking on COVID-19 prevention….

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Nov 19 2020
Safety and Health

Company pays $1.5 million for failing to enforce lockout procedures

The U.S. Department of Justice announced in a recent press release that an auto-parts manufacturer pled guilty to criminal charges stemming from an employee’s death after the government determined the company had lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures in place but supervisors continually failed to enforce them. The worker, only 20 years old, entered an enclosure to troubleshoot…

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Nov 19 2020
Affirmative ActionHarassment & Discrimination

OFCCP busier than ever as 2020 draws to a close

Federal contractors, take note: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) isn't slowing down in publishing new regulatory and enforcement initiatives, in addition to its ongoing affirmative action enforcement work. Recent agency actions include: Publishing a final regulation capturing the process for resolving allegations of discrimination in an affirmative action audit. The agency will…

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