The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) extends tax credits available to covered employers who provide qualified sick and family leave wages (within the meaning of ARPA) to their employees between Apr. 1, 2021 through Sep. 30, 2021.
Chicago Amends Paid Sick Leave Ordinance to Expand Bases for Leave
The Chicago City Council amended its Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (PSLO) to clarify and expand the bases to take paid leave and to create a new action for wage theft.
Revised Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Expands Who Are Covered Family Members
Beginning July 25, 2021, employees can use Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) to care for more people.
DHHS and DOJ Issue Guidance on “Long COVID” As a Disability
On July 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance explaining that “long COVID” can be a disability under Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which apply to state/local government and public accommodations respectively.
To Mandate or Not To Mandate: DOJ Weighs In on Vaccination Mandates
Can employers mandate vaccines? The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) says they can, but before employers do, they should consider the many legal and practical risks.
Mask On? Mask Off? Mask On? What Employers Need to Know About The New CDC Guidance
The CDC is now recommending that everyone — including fully vaccinated individuals — wear masks in indoor public settings in all areas with substantial and high transmission of the COVID-19 virus and get tested following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
New Hampshire Adopts Paid Leave Program
New Hampshire has joined eight states and the District of Columbia when, on June 24, 2021, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a two-year state budget that includes a paid leave program.
Louisiana to Require Employers to Provide Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnancy
Beginning Aug. 1, 2021, Louisiana employers will be required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees who need such accommodations due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless it would pose an undue hardship on the employer.
Oregon Temporarily Allows Vaccine Incentives and Hiring Bonuses
The Oregon legislature has temporarily amended Oregon’s Equal Pay Act to allow employers latitude to both encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and to attract new employees as the state emerges from COVID-19 business restrictions.
Minnesota Legislature Amends Lactation Breaks and Pregnancy Accommodation Provisions
As part of the Omnibus Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Bill, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has approved an amendment relating to pregnancy accommodations and barring reducing compensation for lactation breaks, among other changes.
City of Los Angeles Requires Vaccine Leave for Employees Working in the City
California state and some local COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave requirements continue through the summer, and the City of Los Angeles’ mayor issued a public order mandating additional paid leave.
2021 DMEC ADA Accommodations Pulse Survey Results (May)
As COVID-19 continues to impact organizations, ADA accommodations have also been affected. In this pulse survey, we looked at the volume and types of accommodation requests organizations have seen since … Read More
OSHA’s Updated Guidance for COVID-19 in Workplaces
When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rolled out its COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard on June 10, 2021, it also issued its updated Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in non-healthcare workplaces.
Virginia Employers Soon Must Adopt, Provide Accommodation Policies to Employees With Disabilities
Starting on July 1, 2021, most Virginia employers must include information in their employee handbooks about reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and provide that information directly to any employee within 10 days after receiving notice that the employee has a disability.
Nevada Expands Paid Leave Rights for Employees, Including for COVID-19 Vaccination
Nevada has enacted a new law requiring employers to provide additional paid leave to allow employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and clarifying that employees may use existing paid leave to care for themselves and their family members.
Connecticut Enacts Law Providing Employees Unpaid Time Off to Vote
Connecticut Governor Lamont has signed into law a requirement for employers to provide all employees with two hours unpaid time off to vote.
Maine Expands State FMLA to Allow Leave to Care for Serious Health Conditions of Grandchildren
Maine employees will soon be eligible to take protected unpaid leave to care for serious health conditions of their grandchildren. On June 14, 2021, Governor Janet Mills signed into law L.D. 61, an Act to Include Grandparents Under Maine’s Family Medical Leave Laws.
Incentives: From Water Bottles to “Not So Substantial”
For years, the EEOC has waffled about whether incentives were permissible in connection with a medical inquiry under a voluntary wellness program. The EEOC issued its most recent pronouncement on the topic — this time related to incentives for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Montana Makes Vaccination Status a Protected Class
Discrimination based on vaccination status is prohibited under a new Montana law (House Bill 702). Enacted on May 7, 2021, the new law went into effect immediately.
EEOC Updates Its Guidance On Vaccinations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued additional informal guidance concerning COVID-19 vaccination issues.