New York City Mayor Eric Adams officially announced that New York City will rescind its private employer vaccine mandate, effective November 1, 2022. ...more
As US federal and local governments have declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency, employers attuned to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic may be left wondering what protocols to implement before and after a...more
While state and local governments and local health authorities can continue to require individuals and businesses to maintain stricter standards than the CDC’s recently updated guidance, the changes reflect the CDC’s current...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new framework on February 25 providing that mask wearing is optional in low- and moderate-risk settings....more
New York State lifted its mask mandate applicable to businesses on February 10, and the New York State Department of Labor subsequently issued new guidance that the New York HERO Act does not require employers to enforce mask...more
The New York Department of Labor on December 22 released a new proposed regulation setting forth the workplace safety committee requirements under New York Labor Law Section 27-D, otherwise known as Section 2 of the New York...more
New “Key to NYC” guidance for private sector employers was released on Wednesday following New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s December 6 announcement that employees (1) not previously covered under the existing Key to NYC...more
12/20/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employment Policies ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Posting Requirements ,
Private Sector ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
New York Governor Kathleen Hochul announced a mandate requiring that all businesses and venues require employees and patrons in public indoor spaces to wear masks, unless the business or venue requires all individuals on the...more
A federal judge in Georgia issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the federal government from enforcing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors nationwide. This decision follows a November...more
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on December 6 that employees (1) not previously covered under the existing “Key to NYC” vaccination requirements and (2) who perform in-person work for private businesses in the...more
A proposed Arkansas bill that would require employers to offer testing options as an exception to employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates became law on October 13, 2021. Governor Asa Hutchinson refused to sign the law, deeming it...more
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced on September 6, 2021 that the New York State Department of Health designated COVID-19 a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to public...more
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued Executive Order 225 (the Order) and related guidance on August 16 regarding the “Key to NYC” vaccination requirements for indoor entertainment/recreation, dining, and fitness...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated guidance recommending that fully vaccinated persons in areas with substantial or high rates of COVID-19 transmission resume wearing masks in public...more
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) published the Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard (the Standard) on July 6 pursuant to the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act) as well as a...more
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on June 15 that the State of New York reached its goal of 70% of adult New Yorkers receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As anticipated based on prior announcements, Governor Cuomo...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued important updates to its COVID-19 guidance for employers on June 10. To start, the long-awaited COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is effective...more
6/14/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Essential Workers ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Workplace Safety
On June 8, 2021, the New York State Department of Health released updated interim guidance for office-based workplaces that removes significant prior restrictions. This new guidance comes on the heels of Governor Andrew...more
6/11/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Screening Procedures ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a long-awaited update to its technical assistance guidance on COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and other federal...more
6/1/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Incentive Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
New guidance will allow employees in New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington to go maskless and stop social distancing if they provide their employers proof of vaccination against COVID-19. On May 26, 2021, New Jersey Governor...more
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that effective Wednesday, May 19, 2021, New York State will adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People for...more
5/19/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health ,
Seating ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for fully vaccinated individuals on May 13 to state that “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance” in most...more
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont jointly announced on May 3 a significant easing of the remaining capacity restrictions on business operations related to the COVID-19...more
5/7/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Gatherings ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Seating ,
State and Local Government ,
Workplace Safety
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont jointly announced on May 3 a significant easing of the remaining capacity restrictions on business operations related to the COVID-19...more
We hosted a very informative Fast Break session last week discussing what healthcare providers need to know as they prepare their employees to return to work and try to get back to a sense of normalcy. ...more