On December 3, 2021, the Florida Department of Legal Affairs of the state attorney general’s office issued an emergency rule establishing the procedure for private employer vaccination mandate complaints under section...more
12/8/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Complaint Procedures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Rule ,
Employer Mandates ,
Exemptions ,
OSHA ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Health Departments ,
Stays ,
Temporary Regulations ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
In a November 30, 2021, order, a federal judge sitting in Louisiana entered a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) interim final rule entitled...more
12/2/2021
/ Appeals ,
Biden Administration ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Covered Employer ,
Executive Orders ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hospitals ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
OSHA ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Stays ,
Temporary Regulations
In a 32-page order issued on November 29, 2021, United States District Judge Matthew T. Schelp entered a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) interim final...more
On November 18, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law measures that immediately prohibit workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private and public employers and begin the process for Florida establishing a state...more
11/19/2021
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Enforcement ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor DeSantis ,
OSHA ,
Pending Legislation ,
Preemption ,
State OSHA Laws ,
Temporary Regulations ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On November 15, 2021, the Florida Legislature will convene a five-day special session under the proclamation issued on October 29, 2021, by Governor Ron DeSantis for the “Keep Florida Free” joint legislative agenda.
With...more
11/15/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Enforcement ,
Exemptions ,
Governor DeSantis ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Preemption ,
Private Sector ,
Public Employees ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Accommodation ,
State Health Departments ,
State Legislatures ,
State OSHA Laws ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing
As of August 8, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has received more than 5,558 whistleblower complaints related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic (and State Plans have received an...more
8/12/2021
/ Administrative Complaints ,
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Biden Administration ,
Complaint Procedures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
OSHA ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers ,
Workplace Safety
With the onslaught of the pandemic in 2020, many employers were busy dealing with staffing issues, safety concerns, and COVID-19–related legislation. There may have been little to no time to address handbook policies....more
COVID-19 cases in Florida continue to increase, particularly in the Tampa Bay area. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties have enacted ordinances requiring face coverings in...more
On March 17 and 20, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Orders 20-68 and 20-71, announcing unprecedented state-wide closures of bars and nightclubs, restaurants for on-site dining, and stand-alone gyms. Since...more