Congress Passes the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021
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Congress recently passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, which invalidates arbitration agreements that preclude a party from filing a lawsuit in court involving sexual assault or sexual harassment, at the election of the party alleging such conduct. President Biden is expected to sign it into law soon. […]
Mask Mandate for Businesses Is Lifted, but Certain Requirements Remain
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Governor Kathy Hochul lifted the indoor mask mandate in New York, which required businesses to ask for proof of full vaccination or require masks indoors at all times. This became effective February 10th and reflected the continued decline of the Omicron variant. The Governor left in place a mask requirement in schools until March when […]
New York State Department of Labor Whistleblower Notice
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There were several amendments to New York’s Whistleblower law that went into effect on January 26, 2022. The amendments provide greater protection for private-sector employees who report actions of their employer that they reasonably believe to be illegal or a danger to public health or safety. The New York State Department of Labor has released […]
OSHA Withdraws Emergency Temporary Standard
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On January 25, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced the withdrawal of its emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) that would have required private sector US employers with 100 or more employees to either mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees or require them to comply with weekly COVID-19 testing and face covering requirements. OSHA’s […]
New York State Extends HERO Act Designation and Mask Mandate
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As we previously reported, New York State passed the Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”) to prevent the spread of all airborne infectious diseases in the workplace and establish workplace safety committees. The law requires employers to implement industry-specific airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plans. Since September 6, 2021, the Department of Health Commissioner […]
Supreme Court Strikes Down OSHA’s Vaccine Emergency Temporary Standard
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The United States Supreme Court has blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) from enforcing the emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) which required businesses with at least 100 employees to ensure workers are vaccinated against the coronavirus or wear masks and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The parties will now go back to the lower courts to […]
New York State Department of Labor Adopts Paid Sick Leave Regulations
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On December 22, 2021, the New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”) adopted the proposed regulations on the New York State Paid Sick Leave (“NYSPSL”) Law. The regulations addressed the manner in which employees are to be counted for purposes of determining employer coverage under the NYSPSL Law, the extent to which employers can request […]
NYC – Private Employer Vaccine Mandate Still in Effect by Mayor Eric Adams
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Mayor Eric Adams stated that he will maintain the current vaccine mandate in effect for all employees in New York City. All people who perform in-person work or who interact with the public must have 2 doses of the vaccine (if Moderna or Pfizer) by February 10, 2022 and were already required to have had […]
OSHA Updates Its FAQs on the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard
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As noted in our recent client alert, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), and OSHA is currently proceeding with implementation of the ETS. OSHA now has updated its FAQs to clarify that employees have until February 9, 2022 to complete the primary […]
New York State Mask or Proof of Vaccine for Entry Mandate for Indoor Venues – Extended until February 1, 2022
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New York State requires that ALL indoor venues (including offices and other places of business, including vehicles) have one of two mandatory policies: They must either require all who enter to be vaccinated (and provide proof of vaccine), or they must require that everyone, regardless of their vaccine status, wear masks at all times. If […]
CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for Those Infected with or Exposed to COVID-19
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On December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) announced new guidance for isolation and quarantine for those infected with, or exposed to, COVID-19. The CDC has shortened its prior recommendation of isolation and quarantine periods of up to 14 days as follows: Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination […]
NYS Hero Act Overview and Proposed Regulation on the Workplace Safety Committee Requirements
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On April 23, 2021, the New York legislature passed the Health and Essential Rights (“HERO” or “Act”), which aimed to protect workers and the public from the risks posed by COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases by requiring employers with worksites located in New York State to implement specific workplace health and safety standards. The Act was […]