Last month, President Biden issued an Executive Order which effectively imposes several COVID-19 safety standards and protocols, including mandatory vaccination, upon certain federal contractors and subcontractors....more
10/7/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Essential Workers ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Manufacturers ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Safety Standards ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
While employers in healthcare and education have mandated, or considered mandating, vaccination of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, recently employers in many other industries are considering doing so....more
9/14/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Manufacturers ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Earlier this year, we covered the topic of drug testing in the workplace. Since then, several states have passed legislation legalizing recreational use of cannabis, including Connecticut; this new law not only legalizes the...more
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on ensuring that employees are receiving equal pay for equal work, which has resulted in a wave of new legislation geared towards closing the wage gap....more
Beginning October 1, 2021, Connecticut employers, meaning those that employ at least one employee in the state, will be required to disclose wage ranges for vacant positions pursuant to an amendment of existing laws...more
6/15/2021
/ Amended Legislation ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Pay ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Regulations ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its technical assistance guidance for the first time since December 16, 2020, to address COVID-19 vaccinations of employees in the workplace. The...more
6/7/2021
/ 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 ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
More than one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks and social distancing continue to be the “new normal.” Manufacturers, while familiar with health and safety protocols related to their...more
Although millions of people in the United States have been vaccinated since COVID-19 vaccine distribution began in December 2020, a large percentage of the population still remains unvaccinated. ...more
4/14/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Manufacturers ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Post-employment restrictions, including noncompete agreements, have become an increasingly popular tool for protecting business investments; confidential information; client, customer and employee relationships; and goodwill....more
Connecticut House Bill 6515, otherwise known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination as well as discrimination in public accommodations, housing,...more
Over the past year, employees have faced a number of challenges in light of the current pandemic, both personal and professional. Employees who are engaged in “frontline” work have been particularly impacted including those...more
During 2020, many employers faced a call for action to clearly state their positions on the social justice and civil rights issues of the day. The days of employers comfortably remaining silent appear to be gone as employees...more
While the presidential election may be in the past, conversations on political and social issues are not. As the new Presidential Administration takes the helm, the pandemic continues, and significant political division...more
This week, we continue our 2021 outlook series with a focus on labor and employment. With the new Presidential administration this year, we anticipate a number of changes in labor and employment laws on the federal level....more
1/22/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Federal Contractors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Manufacturers ,
Manufacturing Facilities ,
Minimum Wage ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, many employers have implemented a variety of safeguards to limit the spread of COVID-19 in their workplaces. One safeguard being utilized is a COVID-19 testing program. As a preliminary...more
1/7/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Risk Management ,
Third-Party Risk ,
Vendors ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sudden, widespread shift towards remote work arrangements. This shift has provided many benefits, including an increase in the employee talent pool and the ability to...more
After months of countless updates on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine weaving its way through the regulatory approval process, the vaccine has arrived! Now many employers are grappling with a key question – what type of...more
12/21/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Manufacturers ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
As the holiday season approaches and COVID-19 cases surge, many employers are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in their workplaces. Most employees are suffering from fatigue, burnout, isolation, and loneliness from...more
As COVID-19 cases across the country begin to surge, COVID-19-related hospitalizations are also on the rise. This increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations likely will have a number of practical implications for the...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued new model notices and certification forms (FMLA forms), which can be used by employers to administer the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and fulfill the FMLA...more
With election season underway, employers are considering how to address employees discussing politics and expressing their political beliefs in the workplace. Managing these issues can create significant legal and employee...more
A United States federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York struck down four regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) limiting paid leave entitlements under the Families First...more
The Connecticut Workers Compensation Act (Act) provides wage replacement and medical benefits for employees who suffer a work-related injury or illness, including certain occupational diseases (defined in the Act to mean “any...more
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to distribute capital quickly and broadly to help alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19,...more
Having been “inundated with questions from both state regulators and the regulated community about how to handle the current extraordinary situation,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a temporary...more