Texas Employers Now Shielded from Most COVID-19 Liability
Texas recently enacted the Pandemic Liability Protection Act (PLPA), which grants retroactive liability protections for both small and large businesses. Under the PLPA, businesses of all sizes are protected from nearly all claims of injury or death from exposure to a pandemic disease regardless of whether the person injured was an employee. Employment Law Watch:Texas […]
California Supreme Court Announces New Standard That Meal and Rest Period Premiums Must Be Paid at Same “Regular Rate of Pay” Used to Calculate Overtime Payments
The California Supreme Court’s decision issued on July 15, 2021 clarifies that California employers must pay one-hour meal and rest period premiums to employees who report that they were not provided compliant meal or rest periods. The pay must be at the same FLSA “regular rate” that is used to calculate overtime premiums, not at […]
NY DOL Publishes its Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan in Accordance With the NY HERO Act
New York employers must now adopt the NYDOL’s Model Plan, or their own plan that at least meets the minimum standards set by the Model Plan’s requirements (“Alternate Plan”), by August 5, 2021, and post and distribute the plan to its employees within 30 days thereafter, or by September 4, 2021. Littler Insight:NY DOL Publishes […]
Oregon and Washington Issue Heat Standard
Oregon: On July 8, 2021, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) adopted emergency Heat Illness Prevention rules to establish workplace heat safety requirements that apply when temperatures in a work area reach or exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The rules are effective immediately. Littler Insight: Oregon OSHA Issues Temporary Heat Standard Washington: On July […]
Statewide Reopening and Mitigation protocols, Employee Health Screening Guidance
The following posts cover the most current, generally-applicable statewide laws and orders for employers who are planning on reopening their workplaces after the COVID-19 closures. Littler Insight:Employee Temperature and Health Screenings – A List of Statewide Orders Littler Insight:Statewide Reopening and Mitigation Steps
Illinois Legislature Passes Significant Restrictive Covenant Reform Bill
On May 31, 2021, the Illinois Legislature recently passed a bipartisan bill that seeks to significantly amend the Illinois Freedom to Work Act and impose restrictions on the use of non-competition and non-solicitation restrictive covenants for Illinois employees. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor Pritzker, and would take effect on January 1, […]
Georgia Limits the Use of COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Passports’ for Employers
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order to prohibit private employers that decide to implement a vaccine passport program from using data from the state’s immunization database. Jackson Lewis Publications:Georgia Prohibits COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Passports’ for Public Employers, Also Limiting Private Employers
DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility (Effective June 1, 2021)
Employees hired on or after Jun. 1, 2021 and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) until they undertake non-remote employment on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend […]
President Biden To Set $15 Minimum Wage For Federal Contractors
On April 27th, President Biden issued an executive order seeking to have the Department of Labor implement regulations that will raise the minimum wage for certain federal contractors by March 2022. Jones Day Insight:White House Seeks to Raise Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors White House Briefing:FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Issues an Executive Order to Raise the Minimum Wage […]