Philadelphia court employees will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of continued employment; they must be vaccinated, or offer proof of a medical exception, by November 15, 2021, the First Judicial District (FJD) has announced. Moreover, the FJD will review requests for religious exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
Articles Discussing General Topics In Pennsylvania Labor & Employment Law.
Philadelphia Tweaks Exceptions to August 11, 2021 Indoor Mask Mandate
On August 13, 2021, the Philadelphia Department of Health published a regulation amending its August 11, 2021 order that requires individuals to wear a face mask (with certain exceptions) in indoor settings and at certain large outdoor events in Philadelphia, unless a
Pennsylvania Appeals Court Determines State’s Medical Marijuana Act Includes a Private Right of Action for Employees
In a case of first impression, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has determined that employees can sue their employers for claims under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (MMA). Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Sys., Inc., No. 398 MDA 2020, 2021 PA Super. 155 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 5, 2021). This
Pennsylvania Court Holds Medical Marijuana Act Allows Employees to Sue for Discrimination
On August 5, 2021, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania held for the first time that Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) allows an employee to sue his or her employer for taking an adverse employment action based on the employee’s status as a certified user of medical marijuana.
In Pennsylvania, Facial Expressions Matter.
A Pennsylvania court recently addressed whether a deponent could be compelled to remove a face mask during his deposition after the deponent refused, citing health concerns. After rescheduling the deposition once, plaintiff’s counsel asked the Court to order the deponent to testify maskless given that he would be doing
Philadelphia Requires Face Masks Indoors and Certain Large Outdoor Events, With Limited Exceptions, Unless All Present Are Vaccinated
On August 11, 2021, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Acting Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole issued an Order effective immediately that requires individuals to wear a face mask (with certain exceptions) in any indoor setting and at certain large outdoor events in Philadelphia, unless all present are required to be
Pennsylvania Appellate Court Affirms State Medical Marijuana Law Provides Private Right Of Action
The Pennsylvania Superior Court has found, as a matter of first impression, that medical marijuana users may maintain a private action under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (MMA), including a wrongful discharge action. See Scranton Quincy Clinic Company, LLC, et al. v. Pamela Palmiter, Case No. 498 MDA 2020 (Pa.
Philadelphia Requires Faces Masks Indoors and Certain Large Outdoor Events, With Limited Exceptions, Unless All Present Are Vaccinated
On August 11, 2021, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Acting Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole issued an Order effective immediately that requires individuals to wear a face mask (with certain exceptions) in any indoor setting and at certain large outdoor events in Philadelphia, unless all present are required to be vaccinated and there is a reasonable process to confirm vaccination status of all present.
Pittsburgh Extends Temporary COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave but Confusion Over Employers’ Obligations Persists
On July 27, 2021, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto signed Section 626B of the City of Pittsburgh Code—also known as the Temporary COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Ordinance. Under the Ordinance, employers with over 50 employees must provide up to 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave for full-time employees, and
Philadelphia Businesses Must Require Masks or Proof of Vaccination From Employees and Customers Beginning August 12, 2021
Effective at midnight August 12, 2021, Philadelphia businesses must require masks or proof of vaccination from employees and customers. Businesses that require all staff and customers to be fully vaccinated are not subject to the masking rule. Large outdoor events with no seating must require masks when more than 1,000
Pittsburgh Expands COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave
Pittsburgh has joined other American cities by enacting new legislation to address the uptick in COVID-19 cases from a sick leave perspective.
Philadelphia Implements New Mask Mandate Two Months After Lifting Mask Restrictions for Businesses Not Mandating Vaccines
On August 11, 2021, Mayor Jim Kenney announced a new mask mandate for businesses and institutions that do not mandate vaccinations for employees, patrons, and guests within the City of Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Enacts Another Emergency Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
On July 27, 2021, Mayor Bill Peduto signed a new Temporary COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, which will become Section 626B of the City of Pittsburgh Code. It requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide up to 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave to full-time employees
Expiration of Philadelphia Public Health Emergency Leave Law
On June 15, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration certified the results of the May 2021 municipal primary election, and thereby formalized the approval of an amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania giving lawmakers the broad new power to extend or end disaster emergency declarations. Because the Philadelphia Public Health Emergency
Recent Amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution Foreshadow the End of Statewide COVID-19 Orders in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Services Code allows a governor, upon declaring a disaster emergency, to issue orders responding to that emergency. The power to issue such orders ends either when the governor decides the emergency has passed or the legislature, by concurrent resolution, terminates the state of disaster emergency by
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