COVID

On March 14, 2022, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released several pieces of guidance aimed at addressing discrimination against caregivers, including:

  • A technical assistance document entitled “The COVID-19 Pandemic and Caregiver Discrimination Under Federal Employment Discrimination Law”;
  • Updated COVID-19 guidance, entitled “What You Should Know,” which explains what may constitute discrimination against employees and job seekers with family caregiving responsibilities; and
  • A short video explaining caregiver discrimination in both English and Spanish.
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In response to dropping cases of COVID-19 in the City, on March 2, 2022, Philadelphia announced that it has moved into the “All Clear COVID Response Level,” and, as a result, will no longer enforce its indoor mask mandate.  The change is effective immediately for businesses and institutions.  The Philadelphia Department of Public Health also stressed that businesses may still require masks, and that the City may reinstate the mask mandate if COVID-19 cases rise, or a new variant develops. … Continue Reading

President Biden’s vaccination mandate for federal contractors remains under a nationwide injunction.  In September 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14042, which directed federal agencies to require certain federal contractors and subcontractors to implement a vaccine mandate and COVID-19 workplace safety measures.  On December 7, 2021, the Southern District of Georgia enjoined the Executive Order nation-wide, and the injunction was later upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.… Continue Reading

On the latest episode of our podcast, Business Better, our Ballard lawyers provide an update on the current status of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and the steps employers should be taking as a result of the recent changes.

Leading this discussion is Lila Sevener, an Associate in Ballard’s Philadelphia office.… Continue Reading

The following dashboard provides an at-a-glance summary of the federal vaccine mandates and their current legal status.  To learn more about each mandate, follow the links to HR Law Watch articles.

PODCAST:  Catch our podcast titled Federal Vaccine Mandates: What’s Next for Employers.

Mandate Requirements of Mandate Current Status
Federal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) Requires all covered employers to ensure that employees are fully vaccinated by January 4 or test weekly, among other requirements.
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As previously reported here, the Supreme Court recently issued decisions staying the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “vaccine or test” Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and upholding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for certain health care providers. Meanwhile, the vaccine mandate for federal contractors remains stayed pending appellate court review.… Continue Reading

The Supreme Court issued two opinions on January 13, 2022 relating to federal agency vaccination rules and mandates. In one opinion, the Court issued an emergency stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “vaccine or test” Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). In another opinion, the Court upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for certain health care providers.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will expedite its consideration of the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.  Legal briefing is already under way and the Court will hear oral argument on January 7, 2022 on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) mandating COVID-19 vaccination or testing. … Continue Reading

On December 17, the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion lifting the nationwide stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) mandating COVID-19 vaccination or testing. As previously reported here, the ETS requires employers with 100 or more employees to either require that workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to regular COVID-19 testing and wear a face covering.… Continue Reading

As we previously reported here, the Biden Administration has seen significant setbacks as courts around the country halt the administration’s vaccine mandates, including the emergency Interim Final Rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Specifically, on November 29, Judge Matthew T. Schelp of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri enjoined the CMS Rule in the ten states who brought an action seeking preliminary injunction (Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).… Continue Reading