Breaking News, Compliance for HR, HR Updates

Supreme Court Rules – Blocked Biden Vaccine Mandate; Healthcare Workers Must Be Vaccinated

On Thursday, January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the vaccine mandate introduced by President Joe Biden that would have required employers with more than 100 employees to require all employees be vaccinated or wear masks and be tested weekly. The mandate, promulgated by the federal workplace safety agency, OSHA, would have impacted more …

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Compliance for HR, HR Updates

OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards & Vaccine Mandate Update

On Friday, December 17th, 2021, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Kentucky, lifted the injunction blocking OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccination Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in the case of BST Holdings, LLC et al v. OSHA, et al, No. 21-4080 (6th Cir. Dec. 17, 2021).   The ETS mandate would require all private businesses with …

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Compliance for HR, HR Updates

OSHA Suspends Implementation and Enforcement of COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Mandate

On Nov. 16, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suspended its implementation and enforcement activities of the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard it published on Nov. 5, 2021. The agency posted a brief statement on its webpage stating:  “While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities …

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HR Updates

Breaking News Update: Federal Appeals Court Blocks Biden Administration’s New Vaccine-or-Testing Policy

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has issued a stay temporarily blocking President Biden’s new COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing policy for businesses with at least 100 employees companywide. The court issued the ruling after a range of lawsuits were filed in states across the country challenging the policy. The appeals court granted the emergency …

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Compliance for HR, HR Updates

BREAKING NEWS: OSHA Issues COVID-19 Workplace Vaccine and Testing Mandate

This morning, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement President Biden’s vaccine mandate stating that employers with 100 or more workers must require COVID-19 vaccinations or a weekly negative test result before coming to work. The implementation of the vaccine mandate will impact more than …

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HR Management

What employers should know about the new COVID stimulus bill – HR Affiliates Blog

Last month Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, aimed at helping businesses and workers who have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic. Paycheck Protection Program expansion Among other provisions in the Act, the expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will help small businesses stay open — and pay …

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Compliance for HR

BE PROACTIVE TO FACE 2021’S NEW CHALLENGES – HR Affiliates Blog

2020 was the year that HR was required to react to the unexpected, but it’s now time to plan for the known challenges in the coming year.  2021 is the year that HR will be on the front lines dealing with employment law related compliance, including enforcing COVID-19 safety rules, crafting policies that support working …

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Compliance for HR

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON PROTECTING WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY – OSHA AND COVID-19 – HR Affiliates Blog

On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an “Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety,” which requires the Department of Labor (“DOL”), acting through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), to issue new COVID-19 workplace safety guidance for employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act within two weeks of the date of …

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Compliance for HR, Employee Relations

Should employers mandate COVID-19 vaccinations? – HR Affiliates Blog

As the United States and the rest of the world wait for a full-scale rollout of vaccinations for COVID-19, employers are considering the issue of mandating that employees be vaccinated before returning to work.  Many experts agree that employers will be justified in requiring vaccines for employees as long as their policies include certain exceptions. …

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HR Management

Are You Allowing Employees to Vacation Without a Safety Plan in Place Amid COVID-19? – HR Affiliates Blog

COVID-19 has affected the workplace in several complex ways, and will continue to do so as much uncertainty lies ahead. We’ve reached a point where a lot of people have recently decided to take out-of-state vacations. Concerned colleagues are now expressing their hesitation with those vacationing to return to the office. As the employer, it …

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