In June, with much fanfare, California announced it was reopening and lifting many of the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place through state executive and health department orders. However, as there have been surges of COVID-19 across the state, many state and local orders requiring COVID-19 controls have changed in response. Mask mandates and vaccination requirements for certain workers, in particular, have been on the rise. Employers should carefully review new state and local guidance as well as their procedures to account for the new developments.

Mask Requirements

California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, updated emergency temporary standard requirements in June. These changes included adjustments to face-covering requirements for fully vaccinated workers while indoors and outdoors to mirror the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) guidance in place at the time of California’s reopening. This meant fully vaccinated employees were not required to wear face coverings while indoors so long as their employer had verified their vaccination status. In making this change, however, Cal/OSHA’s emergency temporary standard continued to direct employers to follow directives and orders from the state and local health departments, as well as CDPH guidance on the use of face coverings. Because the emergency temporary standard continues to direct employers to follow CDPH guidance, the Standards Board has indicated they do not plan to revise current emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 until December. On August 25, 2021, Cal/OSHA also stated in a press release that it “recommends” employers and workers follow the updated guidance from CDPH.  It is important that employers review the different standards and follow the stricter standard that applies to their business.

On July 28th the CDPH revised its guidance regarding the use of face coverings to include recommending universal masking indoors statewide. Significantly, the CDPH also mandated masks for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, on public transit, indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, emergency shelters, cooling centers, healthcare settings, state and local correctional facilities and detention centers, homeless shelters, long term care settings, and adult and senior care facilities as defined by the Order.

For unvaccinated individuals, CDPH stated masks were required in indoor public settings and businesses subject to certain exemptions.

The guidance was issued after changes in the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) guidance recommending masking for indoor settings in areas with substantial and high transmission of COVID-19.

Even before the CDPH revised its face-covering guidance, several counties issued masking mandates, and more continue to join. Currently, the following counties require face coverings indoors regardless of vaccination status:

·       Alameda

·       Contra Costa

·       Humboldt

·       Imperial

·       Los Angeles

·       Marin

·       Mendocino

·       Mono

·       Napa

·       Nevada

 

·       Orange

·       Sacramento

·       San Francisco

·       San Mateo

·       Santa Barbara

·       Santa Clara

·       Santa Cruz

·      Sierra 

·      Sonoma

·       Trinity

·       Ventura

·       Yolo

 

Vaccination Requirements

The State of California, through CDPH, has issued several orders implementing the state’s vaccination and workplace testing strategy for reducing COVID-19 case counts. Collectively, these orders require health care workers in certain facility settings to be vaccinated by September 30, 2021 or obtain an exemption from the vaccination requirement for religious reasons or a qualifying medical or health exception. If a worker covered by the orders is exempted, the workers must undergo testing at set frequencies depending on when they enter certain health care facilities and if those facilities are considered high risk. California has instituted similar strategies for workers in school settings.

Several counties have issued requirements that piggyback on the state mandates or place requirements for vaccine verification on particular industries.

If you need information on local or state orders register to review the Jackson Lewis’ COVID-19 Advisor. If you have questions on compliance with COVID-19 workplace requirements, reach out to a Jackson Lewis attorney to discuss.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Jonathan A. Siegel Jonathan A. Siegel

Jonathan A. Siegel is one of the founding Principals of the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He practices before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, state and federal agencies and courts.

Mr. Siegel also provides advice and…

Jonathan A. Siegel is one of the founding Principals of the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He practices before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, state and federal agencies and courts.

Mr. Siegel also provides advice and counsel regarding labor and employment law with respect to various issues ranging from wage and hour law, reduction in force, WARN Act, discipline, leave management and harassment and discrimination issues. Mr. Siegel defends employers regarding different varieties of wrongful termination and discrimination claims.

Mr. Siegel has represented management in union organizing drives and regularly defends employers in unfair labor practice proceedings as well as in collective bargaining and arbitrations. He also has extensive experience conducting wage and hour preventive audits. He conducts single location and multi-location audits for employers. The scope of such audits can range from examining specific issues, i.e., exempt status under federal law and California, to comprehensive FLSA and California Labor Code audits. Mr. Siegel has conducted audits for a wide range of industries including, but not limited to manufacturing, retail, transportation, various service industries, defense contractors and healthcare.

Mr. Siegel regularly speaks on a variety of topics including wage and hour, harassment/discrimination, national and California employment trends, Workers’ Compensation, EEO, managing leaves of absence under FMLA and state leave laws and union avoidance. He has moderated numerous programs and is featured as a keynote speaker for several different organizations.