Category Archives: COVID-19

EEOC Issues Updated Guidance Regarding COVID Screening by Employers

On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance for employers regarding COVID-19 testing and accommodations. Perhaps most impactful, the EEOC altered its position regarding employers testing employees for COVID-19 as part of a mandatory screening prior … Continue reading

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OSHA Withdraws COVID-19 ETS, But Signals That It Is Moving Forward with Final Rule

On January 25, 2022, OSHA announced the withdrawal COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (the “ETS”). In the announcement, OSHA stated that although it “is withdrawing the [ETS] as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, [it] is not withdrawing the … Continue reading

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CDC Shortens COVID-19 Related Isolation and Quarantine Period, and Distinguishes Between Vaccinated Individuals With/Without Booster

On December 27, 2021, the CDC issued updated guidance which significantly shortens the periods of isolation and quarantine it recommends for COVID-related diagnosis and/or exposure. Specifically, the CDC now recommends that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination … Continue reading

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OSHA Exercising Discretion in Enforcing the ETS Until January 10

As posted here, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay of the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (the “ETS”) issued by OSHA. The Department of Labor announced on Saturday, December 18 that OSHA is exercising enforcement discretion … Continue reading

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Court Lifts Stay on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard Regarding COVID-19

On Friday, December 17, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit lifted the stay on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard that mandates employers with 100 or more employees to require unvaccinated workers to wear a mask on … Continue reading

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OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) – Temporarily Blocked

As part of President Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic” COVID-19 plan, the Biden Administration instructed the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) to promulgate an Emergency Temporary Standard (the “ETS”) regarding mandatory vaccinations or weekly … Continue reading

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Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Benefits Extended

As employers know, in May 2021, Massachusetts passed a law, “An Act providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave,” which requires employers to provide employees up to 40 hours of paid leave for reasons related to the effects of … Continue reading

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EEOC Recognizes “Long COVID” as a Disability

Last week, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) formally recognized that “long COVID” may be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Long COVID” occurs when an individual had COVID-19 and continues to suffer from a … Continue reading

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What Employers Need to Know About President Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic” COVID-19 Action Plan

Last Thursday, President Biden announced a broad sweeping, 6-part COVID-19 Action Plan entitled, “Path Out of the Pandemic” (President Biden’s COVID-19 Plan | The White House) aimed at combatting the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. Below are a few of … Continue reading

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COVID-19 and Masks: Updated Guidance from OSHA and Massachusetts

On the heels of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) revised guidance that fully-vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in many indoor or outdoor settings, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced May 17th … Continue reading

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