White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced today that based upon CDC advice, India will be added to the list of countries subject to the 14-day travel restriction rule. It is reported that the new rule will go into effect on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 12:01 am and that airlines and Congress have already
April 2021
Full Enforcement of REAL ID Law Moved to 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced DHS to delay full enforcement of the REAL ID law from October 1, 2021, to May 3, 2023, the agency has announced.
The REAL ID law requires every air traveler 18 years or older to show genuine REAL ID-compliant identification documents at airport security checkpoints for domestic travel. Those under…
California Legislature Considers Bills Supporting Hazard Pay for Grocery and Health Care Industries
Despite the Governor’s recent announcement for a tentative reopening of the state by June, California’s legislature has been busy passing COVID-19-related laws. At the end of March, the Governor signed Senate Bill 95, which resurrected and expanded supplemental paid sick leave. And more recently, the Governor signed Senate Bill 93, which implemented a statewide…
DOH Employee Error Causes Breach of COVID-19 and Other Health Data Affecting Nearly 165,000 Individuals
In a recent post, we highlighted the need for a privacy and cybersecurity training program, one not solely focused on spotting phishing attempts (although that is quite important as well). A primary reason, quite simply, is that employees continue to be a leading cause of data breaches. This fact was reaffirmed for the Wyoming…
Coming Soon: Revisions to Cal OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Anticipated by June 2021
In November 2020, Cal OSHA passed the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). Currently, the Standards are set to expire on October 2, 2021.
As outlined in prior articles, the ETS require that employers:
- Establish, implement, and maintain an effective written COVID-19 Prevention Program.
- Implement COVID-19 preventative measures.
- Report information to their local
…
Employers are Contesting OSHA’s COVID-19 Citations
Frustrated by constantly shifting guidance and shortages of respirators and other personal protective equipment experienced in 2020, employers are rejecting Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations for COVID-19 infractions and contesting them like never before.
To read the article in its entirety, please click here.
Understanding Time Off From Work Obligations For COVID-19 Vaccinations
Last week, President Biden encouraged employers to pay employees for time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and highlighted the tax credits available for employers with less than 500 employees. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) signed by the President on March 11, 2021 continued the tax credits available under the Families First…
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on Northern and Southern Borders Extended
Customs and Border Protection has announced that travel restrictions on the Northern and Southern borders will be extended until May 21, 2021.
For close to 400 days, admission at the land ports of entry has been limited to “essential” travel. Essential travel generally includes individuals entering for work, but it does not include any sort…
Employers Receive Clarification From California Labor Commissioner Through Updated FAQs regarding 2021 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
The COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave statute was signed into law a month ago and, despite a FAQ issued by the California Labor Commissioner, employers were faced with uncertainty as to whether their employee’s leave request qualified under the statute. Fortunately, the Labor Commissioner has updated its FAQs to provide further clarity to employers.
Reasons …
More H-2B Visas to be Released, DHS Announces
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it plans to release 22,000 more H-2B visas in addition to the 66,000 H-2B visas available annually, reserving 6,000 for the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
U.S. employers may bring foreign nationals to this country to fill temporary, non-agricultural jobs in H-2B…