The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the mental health of employees. Employees struggled to adjust to the multiple burdens of working from home, caring for family members and achieving work-life balance.
Continue Reading Mental health claims on the rise: New normal for disability-related charges?
Federal contractor vaccine requirements blocked
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, a federal court in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction against Executive Order 14042, which required many federal contractors to mandate vaccination of employees at facilities which provide support for their federal work. As we have reported in recent weeks, attorneys general and other business groups have been filing lawsuits across the country to prevent vaccine mandates from going into effect.
Continue Reading Federal contractor vaccine requirements blocked
OSHA calls off enforcement of vaccine requirement – for now
As we previously reported, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines on Nov. 4, 2021. Since then, a number of lawsuits have been filed challenging OSHA’s ability to enforce this ETS. Following a stay of those lawsuits by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the cases will be consolidated, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will rule on the fate of the ETS. Regardless of how the Sixth Circuit rules, the case is likely to be ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Continue Reading OSHA calls off enforcement of vaccine requirement – for now
Be prepared: Federal contractor vaccine and mask requirements are here
On Sept. 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force) issued the COVID-19 Workplace Safety: Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors. The Guidance, which is part of President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan, Path Out of the Pandemic, requires that covered employees become fully vaccinated as early as Dec. 8, 2021, unless an accommodation is required or an exception applies. The specific deadline for full vaccination varies based on when the covered contract is entered into, modified or renewed.
Continue Reading Be prepared: Federal contractor vaccine and mask requirements are here
Updated CDC mask guidance: What it means for employers
Last week, the CDC updated its guidance regarding masks for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the latest CDC recommendations, persons who are fully vaccinated can resume their indoor and outdoor activities without the need to wear a mask or engage in social distancing, unless there is a federal, state or local law that requires those measures. This includes being able to engage in domestic travel without the need to test for COVID-19 before or after travel or the need to quarantine after returning.
Continue Reading Updated CDC mask guidance: What it means for employers
A broken toe and voicemails may be sufficient for FMLA interference claim
Does a broken toe amount to a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? According to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, it depends on the circumstances. The Southern District recently held that an employee’s FMLA interference claim can go to trial after there was a dispute as to whether his broken toe constituted a serious health condition and whether he provided sufficient notice to the employer of his need for FMLA leave.
Continue Reading A broken toe and voicemails may be sufficient for FMLA interference claim
EEOC releases fiscal year 2020 charge and litigation data: Retaliation claims continue to dominate
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released its fiscal year 2020 statistics of charges filed and resolved on behalf of charging parties. There were 67,448 charges filed in fiscal year 2020, a reduction from the previous year and the lowest number of charges filed since at least 1992. While part of this drop may be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has also been a decrease in charges filed each year since 2016.
Continue Reading EEOC releases fiscal year 2020 charge and litigation data: Retaliation claims continue to dominate
Sexual orientation and transgender status protected under Title VII sex discrimination prohibition
In a landmark decision issued today, the U.S. Supreme Court held in a 6-3 opinion that the sex discrimination prohibitions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 include discrimination based on sexual orientation or transgender status. The opinion was authored by Justice Gorsuch, and was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan.
Continue Reading Sexual orientation and transgender status protected under Title VII sex discrimination prohibition
New Pittsburgh Paid Sick Days Act set to take effect in middle of coronavirus outbreak
Pittsburgh’s Paid Sick Days Act (PSDA) goes into effect on March 15, 2020, just as the number of coronavirus/COVID-19 infections has begun to increase in the U.S. The new law mandates a number of requirements for employers operating in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The following are some of the highlights of the law about which employers should be aware:
Continue Reading New Pittsburgh Paid Sick Days Act set to take effect in middle of coronavirus outbreak
DOL issues final rule clarifying the regular rate of pay
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is making significant changes to the regulations covering the regular rate of pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for the first time in more than 50 years. The FLSA entitles most covered, nonexempt employees to receive overtime pay of at least one and one-half times the employee’s