As many employers begin implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, they are receiving a large number of employee requests for exemption from the vaccine for religious reasons. Before this week there was no direct guidance from...more
Now that the Delta variant is surging, employers are venturing into the arena of mandating that their employees take the COVID-19 vaccine. But deciding to mandate vaccination and actually implementing such a requirement is no...more
Congress is turning its attention to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package, which is called the American Rescue Plan. Because the package includes enhanced unemployment benefits that are currently set to...more
2/18/2021
/ Child Care ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Stimulus ,
FEMA ,
Joe Biden ,
Minimum Wage ,
Paid Leave ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Unemployment ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
In follow-up to our previous blog regarding mandating the COVID-19 vaccine in the workplace, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has now issued guidance addressing that very issue. According to the...more
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced new coronavirus restrictions on November 13 that took effect on November 15, 2020 and continue through December 12, 2020. All businesses are allowed to be open subject to the...more
11/18/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Governor Holcomb ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Social Distancing ,
Workplace Safety
With the prospect of an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, employers are already wondering whether they will be able to require their employees to get the vaccine. Because the pandemic has caused changes in other...more
With the General Election on November 3rd rapidly approaching, registered voters are exploring various options for casting their ballots, be it through mail or in person early or on Election Day (November 3rd). One critical...more
After schools and day cares closed in the spring due to the pandemic, employers and parents alike were hopeful that summer would bring a return to normalcy – especially in the form of camp for kids. Alas, that hope has not...more
As has come to be expected, the guidance regarding COVID-19 has changed again. This time the CDC narrowed the definition of who constitutes a “close contact” for purposes of tracing people with potential exposure to someone...more
With the ink barely dry on the president’s signature, employers are now turning to whether they need to and how to comply with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Act”) (HR 6201). Since the law was signed by...more
As we previously reported, on March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more
Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force...more
3/17/2020
/ Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
State Labor Laws ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
On March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the legislation...more
Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force....more
3/16/2020
/ Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
State Labor Laws ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
As the new coronavirus (COVID-19) slowly appears outside China, employers should take precautions to protect their workplaces. To that end, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidance for businesses and employers...more
The average life expectancy in the U.S. has declined for three consecutive years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links that decline to three factors: the rise in drug overdoses, an increase in liver...more
Last year we reported on Haven Healthcare, the venture started by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan. Amazon has now announced a pilot program for its employees in Seattle that puts a modern spin on employer provided...more
Wellness programs are a popular employee benefit. Whether an employer already has a program in place or is considering implementing one, it should be mindful of the requirements of federal law.
The Health Insurance...more
Illinois recently enacted a Collective Bargaining Freedom Act which bars local governments from establishing “right-to-work” (“RTW”) laws or zones. This most recent piece of legislation serves as a timely reminder of the...more
The first all-female spacewalk was planned for Friday, March 29, 2019. News outlets included the event in their coverage of women’s history month and the strides women had made in male dominated industries. However, the...more
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are responsible for shielding residents “from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, and exploitation.” 42 C.F.R. § 483.12. This regulation implicates the employment process,...more
One of the biggest challenges faced by health care providers is ensuring proper documentation in patient charts. Shortcomings in charting can result in lost revenue due to third party payers’ assigning a lower CPT code or...more
Exit interviews have been a mainstay of the HR world for years. They are most often viewed as a means of obtaining insights into employee satisfaction issues, such as compensation, benefits and work environment. ...more
As promised earlier this year, we have an update regarding the new health care company being formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase, which still lacks an official name. In February, Warren Buffett announced...more
What happens when you combine Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase? Apparently, a new non-profit health care company. That was the news last month when the three companies announced that they are forming their own...more