A string of executive orders and an OMB memorandum from the Trump Administration left the status of almost all federal funding in a state of limbo. In particular, funding from the National Institutes of Health and for Health...more
2/17/2025
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Funding ,
Healthcare ,
LGBTQ ,
OMB ,
Regulatory Freeze ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Social Equity Programs ,
Trump Administration
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 13, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) issued an emergency use authorization (“EUA”) for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted. Beyond adding another vaccination option in the...more
In a 5-4 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government can enforce a final rule mandating health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 while cases challenging the mandate are being appealed....more
1/14/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Biden v Missouri ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
SCOTUS ,
Stays ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued an order Wednesday, denying the U.S. Government’s attempt to stay an injunction issued by the Western District of Louisiana court, which entered a nationwide injunction against...more
On November 29, 2021, a federal district court in Missouri issued a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation and enforcement of a rule promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) requiring...more
The much-anticipated OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) posted this morning, November 4, 2021, for public inspection. The ETS...more
As directed by President Biden’s September 9, 2021 Executive Order 14042, “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors,” today the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued workplace safety guidance...more
On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration announced its COVID-19 Action Plan, titled the “Path Out of the Pandemic.” The Plan’s six pillars are: Of particular interest to employers is the first pillar. To “vaccinate...more
9/14/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: As the number of COVID-19 related cases, hospitalizations and deaths fall, and states and cities reopen across the country. the Occupational Safety and Health Admission (“OSHA”) published its...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Family and Medical Leave (Department) has opened applications for Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefits related to family bonding leave for children born, adopted, or placed for foster...more
We are pleased to provide you with our 50-State Survey of Liability Protections for Senior Living and Long-Term Care Facilities.
Several states across the country have recently taken executive and/or legislative action...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Labor and Workforce Development Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature has recommended favorable action on a bill that would provide up to 80 hours of paid sick time to employees who need to take...more
On Friday, July 24, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order announcing a $500 daily civil fine, effective August 1, for individuals traveling into the Commonwealth who fail to comply with the State’s...more
7/28/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
State and Local Government ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee
Last week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an updated Executive Order imposing restrictions on travelers to the Commonwealth, effective August 1. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering expanding the Commonwealth’s earned sick time law to provide paid sick time to employees who need to take time off from work for certain reasons...more
Across the nation, states have been stepping up to minimize legal risks to health care workers as they continue the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts became the most recent state to take steps to...more
4/21/2020
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employee Contributions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Governor Baker ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medical Leave ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Leave ,
Rate of Pay ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On April 1, 2020, a FEMA advisory issued that announced a new, more formalized process for distributing the limited available supply of ventilators to states and tribes. The federal government’s supply of available...more
4/3/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defense Production Act ,
Exports ,
Federal Contractors ,
FEMA ,
Imports ,
Manufacturers ,
Medical Devices ,
Medical Supplies ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Supply Chain
As follow-up to our overview “Emergency Childcare: A Guide for Health Care Providers,” below is a deeper dive on some state-specific considerations. There are some impactful measures that some states have already taken which...more
As the effects of coronavirus unquestionably impact every aspect of people’s lives, health care employees and other critical first responders are faced with the challenge of taking care of their children as they continue...more
3/22/2020
/ Child Care ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
EFMLA ,
EPSLA ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
New Guidance ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Posting Requirements ,
School Closures ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Small Business
Among the most common types of wage and hour lawsuits in Massachusetts are independent contractor misclassification suits. These actions arise when an individual who provides a service claims that: (1) he or she was...more
Even fair-minded employers, with sound policies, face “off-the-clock” claims. That is, employers have to defend against lawsuits in which employees argue that they worked hours for which their employers failed to pay them. ...more
Effective July 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (the “Act”) requires employers to pay employees of different genders equal wages for comparable work unless the difference in pay is explained by the Act’s enumerated...more
Tip #1: Consider An Arbitration Agreement—With A Class Action Waiver -
Until recently, there has been much debate about the enforceability of arbitration agreements containing class action waivers. Courts disagreed as to...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, has just released a Report on “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids,” (Washington,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Department of Labor Acting Administrator Bryan Jarrett issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2018-4 (“FAB”) on July 13, to guide Wage & Hour Division (“WHD”) field investigators on how to determine whether...more