Following the official ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released a number of key updates to its COVID-19 technical assistance document, “What you Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation […]
Articles Discussing Workplace Issues Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Online Studies Policy to Resume for Foreign Students as COVID-19 Flexibility Ends
With the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency in the United States, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has reinstated its preexisting policy regarding online classes.
Accordingly, for the 2023-24 academic year (starting fall 2023), students will have to comply with the SEVP’s pre-COVID-19 restrictions. Students will be able
The COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Has Ended—But Do the Accommodations Continue?
On May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 public health emergency ended, creating uncertainty as to employers’ continued obligation to accommodate employees due to pandemic-related reasons. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sought to address these questions through an update that it issued on May 15, 2023, to its COVID-19
The End of COVID-19 Government Regulations in Puerto Rico? Governor Declares the End of the State of Emergency
On May 11, 2023, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2023-012 (“EO 2023-012” or “EO”), through which he declared the end of the state of emergency caused by COVID-19.1 Governor Pierluisi reiterated, however, that the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health (“PR DOH”) retains
EEOC Continues to Allow Certain COVID-19 Protocols in Its Latest Revised COVID-19 Guidance
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated its COVID-19 technical assistance, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws, in response to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration, appearing to give employers permission to continue many of their COVID-19 practices and protocols.
New Executive Order Relieves Federal Contractors From Safer Federal Workforce Requirements
As anticipated, President Joe Biden has rescinded the COVID-19 safety requirements for federal contractors in connection with the declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the World Health Organization determination that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
EEOC Revises its COVID-19 Guidance, Again
On May 15, 2023, in response to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 technical assistance: “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”. This guidance has now been updated roughly a dozen times since
Expiration of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
The last-standing COVID-19-related travel restrictions will soon expire. Bringing the United States in line with most countries around the world, after May 11, 2023, non-citizen, nonimmigrant air passengers need not show proof of being fully vaccinated to board a flight to the United States.
Until May 12, nonimmigrants must
CMS Plans to Unwind Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Healthcare Employers
On November 4, 2021, the Biden administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an interim final rule which required certain workers at CMS-covered healthcare facilities to be vaccinated. Given a recent announcement by the Biden-Harris administration
Is This the End of the Federal Contractor COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate?
On May 1, 2023, the Biden administration announced that it will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal contractors on May 11, 2023—which is the day that the COVID-19 public health emergency will end.
Ending of Federally Mandated COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements, COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that, at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, it will end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers. The COVID-19 public health emergency also will end on the same day. In addition, the Administration announced that the
Biden Administration Announces End to COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for International Travelers
On May 1, 2023, the White House and U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that beginning May 12, 2023, foreign nationals entering the United States via airports, land ports of entry, and ferry terminals will no longer be required to provide evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.
Mission Accomplished … White House Declares an End to the Pandemic and the CMS Vaccine Mandate
On May 1, 2023, the Biden administration announced that it would be ending all of its various COVID-19 vaccination requirements on May 11, 2023, the same date as the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency will end, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)). The
No Change in DOL/Treasury Guidance for Employer Health Plans Issued Before Declared End of COVID-19 National Emergency
In response to House Joint Resolution 7, which was signed into law on April 10, 2023, ending the National Emergency declaration that had been in effect since March 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have clarified informally that they intend to continue to
The National Emergency Ends…. But Wait, There’s More!
We previously wrote about President Biden’s announcement to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and National Emergency (NE) periods on May 11, 2023, and the practical ramifications for employer group health plan sponsors as they administer COBRA, special enrollment, and other related deadlines tied to the end of the
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