Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This topic provides the latest news articles and resources related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Check back here to keep informed.

COVID19

Minneapolis, St. Paul Mayors Issue New Face Mask Mandates

In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have issued new mask mandates for places of public accommodation. Minneapolis On Wednesday, January 5, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Emergency Regulation 2022-1, which requires individuals ages 2 or older to mask in indoor places of public accommodation. The rule […]

Older Workers Leading COVID-Era Jobs Exodus

The labor shortage employers are currently facing is obvious to anyone who’s recently eaten out at a restaurant or visited a retail store. Slow service, “help wanted” signs, and even businesses that are temporarily closed due to a lack of staff are increasingly common sights.

6th Circuit Revives OSHA Vax-or-Testing Rule but Won’t Have the Last Word

Late Friday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision “dissolving” the 5th Circuit’s stay order preventing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from enforcing its COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing rule for employers with 100 or more employees. The next day, OSHA announced January 10 is the new deadline for […]

Ask the Expert: FMLA and Caring for Family Members

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at HR Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber regarding FMLA regulations and the coverage provided to employees who are caring for family members. See what the experts had to say. Q: An employee’s parent is […]

NY Gov Gifts Businesses with New Mask Mandate for the Holidays

Citing a “winter surge” in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, December 10, that a new masking mandate will go into effect on Monday. Read on to understand how your business will be affected by the sudden new requirement, which may scare off both customers and staff alike during […]

Five Things Larger Employers Should do to Comply with OSHA Vaccine Rules

Employers with more than 100 employees have begun scrambling to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing. To learn more about five things larger employers should do to adhere to the new rules, read on.

Employers Await More Legal Action as Last Federal Vax Mandate is Put on Hold

With the last of the federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates shut down at least temporarily, employers are in a wait-and-see mode as they ponder next steps in the effort to do business during a pandemic. On December 7, a federal judge in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction against the vaccine mandate on federal contractors. Previously, a […]

Tips on Responding to Requests for Religious Exceptions to Vaccine Mandates

Many employers have questions about employees’ religious objections to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies because they’re required to accommodate any sincerely held religious beliefs in opposition to the rules. Notably, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) answered questions about the possible accommodations in new technical assistance released on October 25, 2021.

Painful Jab: Mayor De Blasio Rolls Out New Vax Mandate for Businesses

On December 6, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, who is leaving office at the end of the year and likely running for governor in 2022, announced a first-in-the-nation COVID-19 vaccination mandate for workers and customers at indoor dining, fitness, entertainment, and performance venues. The new requirement is in addition to the proof-of-vaccination […]