The pandemic is over, says the WHO. What happens now? For employers, it’s a return to business as usual. Whatever that means today.
Continue Reading The End of the Pandemic – An Employer’s Guide
Court Stays OSHA ETS, But We Know All Too Well It’s Not the Last Word
Last week, I deleted the Twitter app off my iPhone as a bit of an experiment. I’ve done this a few times before — but the start of the pandemic back in early 2020 had me going full on Twitter since then. After all, if it’s important, it’s on Twitter, right?
Well, not exactly. In fact, when I was sick for a few days, I kept turning to Twitter and finding…not much that merited the visit to the app — just boredom. (Never fear though, I can still access it on my computer browser.) Nevertheless, I wondered how much I’d miss if I just took it of my phone.
The first real answer came on Friday when news came of the Fifth Circuit’s beatdown decision to stay enforcement of the OSHA vax or test Emergency Temporary Standard. Turns out you can hear about it the same time as others even without being on Twitter.
But what happened next was interesting for me — nothing. Without being on Twitter, I missed the immediate reactions, overreactions, snark, and, sure, some actual insights.
And that’s ok.
We are entering a time during this pandemic when the changes are happening more incrementally and slowly. Perhaps we are headed for a modest 5th wave here, for example. That might require employers to adjust on the fly again. But speed isn’t everything right now.
Thus, with the luxury of a few more days to ponder and think, where are we now on the OSHA rule?
Continue Reading Court Stays OSHA ETS, But We Know All Too Well It’s Not the Last Word
About Those Office Reopening Plans: Meet the Delta Variant
Earlier this month, I talked about how the Delta variant could start making more of an impact in this area as it had “already shown itself to be far more contagious than prior strains”. Optimistically, I said that employers probably had some time (maybe two months) to figure out their next steps.
That window of
For Workplaces, What Do We Do Now (Pandemic-Edition)?
As to the workplace and the pandemic, what now? It’s a question I’ve posed before, but each time, there’s something new on the horizon.
There a lot of uncertainty. Adding to the uncertainty, is the near certainty that the Delta variant will start making more of an impact in this area.
Already, we are seeing
New Workplace Smoking Restrictions Part of Legal Cannabis Bill
Lost amid the press regarding the new law legalizing cannabis use is the fact that the law also restricts smoking far more in the workplace and affords employers more flexibility as well.
The new law requires employers to to ban smoking and e-cigarette use in any area of the workplace (this will apply to tobacco
Mandating Vaccines at Workplace Is Legal, Says Court
Over the last few months, I’ve noted here and elsewhere that employers can very likely mandate vaccines.
Now are starting to see the first court cases confirm this.
In a decision issued over the weekend, a federal court in Texas rejected claims by a class of workers at a Houston hospital that the hospital’s policy
State Mask Rule Updated Yet Again (Really!)
Did you like Executive Order 12 which set forth a new mask rule in Connecticut? Well, I hope you didn’t get used to it because it changed again on Thursday.
Executive Order 12A tweaks the prior rule.
It provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue a rule setting forth a comprehensive list of
Will We See More Employer-Mandated Vaccinations? Yes, No and Maybe
Judging from the calls I’ve fielded over the last few weeks, nearly every employer is thinking about the impact mass vaccinations are having on their workforce.
The questions (and answers), however, are basically the same:
- Can we mandate vaccinations? (Yes, with some exceptions)
- Are other employers considering mandates? (Yes, though they remain the
The Big Change to COVID-19 Vaccinations in Connecticut
Yesterday, Governor Lamont announced a sweeping change to the way that vaccinations will be distributed in Connecticut. Previously, it was anticipated that workers in essential businesses would receive the vaccines next. Many businesses started plans for the eventuality.
That plan was thrown out.
Instead, the governor announced a new age-based plan. It’s simple and straightforward
Vaccines Continue to Roll Out as New Questions Arise
The news this week is both positive and negative regarding the COVID-19 virus. The testing numbers on Tuesday in Connecticut were as bad as they’ve been since Spring 2020. If the virus isn’t everywhere, it sure feels that way.
But, on the vaccine front, the news is positive. We are moving this week to