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On September 14, 2021, Contra Costa County issued Health Order No. HO-COVID19-57 (the “Order”) mandating certain Contra Costa County businesses and operations to verify its patrons and employees are either fully vaccinated or have a recent negative COVID-19 test result in response to the surging number of COVID-19 delta variant cases.  The Order takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on September 22, 2021.…
Continue Reading Contra Costa County Issues Mandate Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine or Testing for Certain Businesses, Non-Profits, and Higher Education Institutions

On September 1, 2021, the City of Berkeley issued an order mandating that certain Berkeley businesses and operations verify proof of full vaccination of their employees and patrons (the Order) in response to the surging number of COVID-19 Delta variant cases.
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Continue Reading City of Berkeley Issues Mandate Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine for Certain Business Patrons and Employees

Today, President Biden announced the nation’s COVID-19 Action Plan, which is a six-prong, comprehensive national strategy designed to save lives, keep schools open and safe, and protect the nation’s economy while avoiding additional lockdowns and damage. The six prongs are:

  • Vaccinating the unvaccinated;
  • Further protecting the vaccinated;
  • Keeping schools safely open;
  • Increasing testing & requiring masking;
  • Protecting the nation’s economic recovery; and
  • Improving care for those with COVID-19.

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Continue Reading Federal “Path Out of the Pandemic” Announced by the White House Implements New Requirements Affecting Private and Public Employers

On August 13, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released updated general industry guidance for COVID-19 that is applicable to all workplaces. OSHA’s general industry guidance, which is advisory and creates no binding legal requirements, focuses on unvaccinated workers and others who are “at risk” (i.e., immunocompromised individuals).

OSHA has added additional recommendations that…

On August 12, 2021, the City of San Francisco revised its Health Order C19-07y (the “Order”) to mandate certain San Francisco businesses and operations verify proof of vaccination of its staff and patrons in response to the surge of cases caused by the COVID-19 delta variant.

Who does this apply to?

The revised Order requires: (1) businesses and events that serve food or drink indoors (e.g., dining establishments, bars, clubs, theaters, and entertainment venues); (2) gyms, recreation facilities, yoga studios, and other fitness establishments; and (3) indoor events with 1,000+ person attendance, to verify patrons 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated prior to entering the business’ or event’s indoor facilities starting August 20, 2021, ascertain the vaccination status of staff by August 20, 2021, and ensure staff who routinely work onsite are fully vaccinated before entering or working in any indoor portion of the facility by October 13, 2021, with limited exceptions and subject to applicable federal, state, or local laws requiring accommodations.

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Continue Reading City of San Francisco Updates its Health Order to Mandate Certain Businesses Verify Proof of Vaccination

On August 11, 2021, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued an order requiring certain entities to develop health and safety policies and to require masks indoors.

In relevant part to employers, all commercial entities in Dallas County “providing goods or services directly to the public must develop a health and safety policy.” The policy must require, at a minimum, universal indoor masking for all employees and visitors to the commercial entity’s business premises or other facilities. Additionally, the policy may include other mitigating measures to control and reduce the transmission of COVID-19, such as temperature checks or health screenings. The policy must be posted in a “conspicuous location” to provide notice to employees and visitors. Commercial entities are required to implement the policy within three (3) calendar days of the effective date of the order. Failure to do so may result in a $1,000 fine per violation.…
Continue Reading Dallas County Judge Orders Commercial Entities to Develop Health and Safety Policies and Require Masks

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, colloquially referred to as long COVID-19, occurs when an individual who had COVID-19 continues to experience ongoing symptoms for months afterward. Individuals with long COVID-19 might have difficulty working in the same way they did before and may be entitled to workplace accommodations so they can do their job. Even if these employees do not think of themselves as having a disability, they may meet the Americans with Disabilities Act definition.

Under the ADA, an employee is entitled to accommodations if they meet the definition of an individual with a disability and are qualified for the job with the reasonable accommodation. An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. Whether a particular condition is a disability as defined by the ADA requires a case-by-case determination. However, employers are free to provide accommodations even if someone doesn’t meet the definition of disability – and they must provide accommodations if they do meet it, absent undue hardship.

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Continue Reading Still Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms Long After A Diagnosis? Employees May Be Entitled To Workplace Accommodations

According to a legal opinion posted online on July 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice officially took the position that the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—which authorizes an “emergency use authorization” for a vaccine—does not prohibit entities, including employers, from requiring a vaccine even if authorized for emergency use only. Read Full Update

As we updated just two weeks ago, Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health was strongly recommending that everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks in indoor public places.  As of 11:59 pm on Saturday, July 17, 2021, the LA County Public Health Officer has ordered that everyone in Los Angeles County, regardless…

On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-31-20 (“EO N-31-20”) regarding the California WARN Act (Lab. Code §§ 1400, et seq.).  EO N-31-20 is often inaccurately described as suspension of the entire California WARN Act.  However, the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the Employment Development Department…