On Friday, November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a mandate-or-test Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that will take effect in January 2022. The ETS will mandate that most employers with 100 or more employees either (1) require vaccination (with exceptions for reasonable accommodation for medical and/or
Archives for November 10, 2021
District of Columbia Adopts Paid Vaccine Leave Requirements
The District of Columbia Council has passed legislation mandating that employers provide paid leave to employees for time spent obtaining and, if needed, recovering from side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine. Employees will also be provided with leave to accompany minor children to a COVID-19 vaccine appointment and to
Immigration Provisions in Build Back Better Bill
More business immigrant visas may become available if the latest version of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill passes.
If approved by the Parliamentarian and passed as it stands, the bill would make more immigrant visas available by:
Recapturing unused visa numbers from 1992 to 2021; Retaining the availability of
Littler Survey: Most European Employers Reopening Offices, But Disconnect Emerges with Employers on Hybrid Work Models
(November 10, 2021) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labour law practice representing management, has released its fourth annual European Employer Survey Report, completed by more than 530 human resources executives, in-house attorneys and business leaders based mainly across Western and Southern Europe.
The Littler 2021 European Employer Survey Report
Despite all that remains uncertain for European employers – involving the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, new working models or any number of other emergent workforce issues – one area has come into greater focus: Most companies are planning a return to the office in some form.
That much
Illinois Governor Gives Employers Greater Authority to Impose COVID-19 Requirements as a Condition of Employment
On November 8, 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1169, which amends the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to clarify that the Act was not intended to apply to COVID-19 requirements. The amendment therefore gives employers greater authority to impose COVID-19 requirements as a condition of
Alabama Law Creates Additional Exemptions From Mandatory Vaccination Policies
On November 5, 2021, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 9, restricting Alabama employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. The law took effect immediately.
EEOC Announces New Initiative On Artificial Intelligence & Algorithmic Fairness
Continuing its efforts towards becoming a 21st century data analytics agency, during the last week of October, 2021, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Charlotte A. Burrows announced a new EEOC initiative on artificial intelligence and algorithmic fairness.
This new initiative is aimed at ensuring that artificial intelligence and
Additional Pushback on Governmental and Private Employer Vaccine Mandates by Certain States
As reported less than a week ago, some states are pushing back on government and private employer vaccine mandates through state legislation and lawsuits against the federal government.
Cal/OSHA Standards Board to Discuss New OSHA ETS
Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) pertaining to COVID-19. While there are already lawsuits to block the Federal ETS, California employers are wondering what is going to happen with Cal/OSHA’s current ETS?
Prior to the issuance of the Federal ETS, Cal/OSHA
Free Webinar: Managing Remote Work Requests During (and After) the Pandemic
Join me for my annual FMLA/ADA webinar, which comes to you, as always, free of charge!
When: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 (12:00 – 1:15 p.m. central time)
Online registration: Click here
Work-from-home requests were on the increase even before the pandemic. After having sent many of their employees home to