The U.S. is currently facing the worst flu season since 2009, and employers can’t afford to ignore it. Beyond the personal toll, flu outbreaks wreak havoc on businesses through lost productivity and absenteeism – and they can...more
As flu and other respiratory virus rates peak across the U.S., hospitals and other health care providers are responding by taking measures such as limiting patient visitors. For years, one element of this response has...more
It’s the season of football, fall foliage, and unfortunately, the flu. As the temperatures dip and boxes of tissues begin to fly off the shelves, it’s time for employers to prepare to meet the challenges of cold and flu...more
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of jurisdictions enacted sick leave laws specifically designed for absences due to COVID-19. Some states, however, enacted permanent changes to their leave laws that apply...more
As summer ends, millions of Americans should pop around the corner for a healthy double — that is, a pair of vaccinations, one targeted against the latest, widely circulating coronavirus Omicron variants and the other...more
While we’ve spent more than the last 12 months navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s not forget that flu season is upon us, again. As is typical during the start of the flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and...more
In Washington: The House of Representatives was set to pass its $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package (H.R. 1319), late Friday night over solid Republican opposition. The passage is a key step toward giving President Joe...more
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employers have a general duty to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards. As cold weather returns, workplaces across the nation will face increased health risks this...more
With winter quickly approaching, employers face the usual spate of employees with seasonal flu and common colds. This year, however, cold and flu season coincides with spiking COVID-19 cases nationwide....more
In Washington: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) outlined a busy lame-duck session agenda Wednesday, saying he wants another coronavirus relief bill by the end of the year and a spending bill by the December 11...more
While many workplaces are settling into a COVID-19 groove of social distancing, masks and sanitizer, we now find ourselves on the cusp of flu season in the United States. Employers may wish to encourage employees to get flu...more
In this Virtual Town Hall discussion, we explored what employers need to be thinking about as we head into year end. Topics discussed include: - Paid Child Care Leave as schools adopt a hybrid model; - Remote work...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought more workplace law challenges over the past six months or so than many employers will see in a lifetime. From changing directives on wearing masks, determining what to do when an employee is...more
In Washington - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have agreed to revive negotiations over a stalled follow-up coronavirus relief bill. Speaker Pelosi has...more
As the flu season approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, employers’ mandatory vaccination policies may soon become more important than ever. For several reasons, those policies will also attract unprecedented...more
As the number of confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19” or “coronavirus”) in the U.S. continues to rise, employers must prepare for issues that will inevitably arise as the virus spreads. While the...more
Fear of the coronavirus and flu may cause anxiety among employees who frequently encounter other people, which may lead them to request permission to wear – or to simply wear without permission – a medical mask or respirator....more
Although news outlets may be preoccupied with alarming updates about the spread of coronavirus – including several cases identified in the United States – employers don’t need to panic quite yet. As of today, the Centers for...more
With the outbreak of the corona virus dominating headlines, it is a great time to dust off the company policy on dealing with flu season and infectious diseases, generally, in the workplace. Contagious diseases are...more
If you have not seen the film, chances are you have at least seen the memes and hype surrounding Netflix’s new horror movie, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock as the protagonist, Malorie....more
It’s flu season and many employers, particularly those in healthcare, want to require employees to be vaccinated to minimize the spread of illness. But what happens when an employee refuses on religious grounds?...more