Philadelphia court employees will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of continued employment; they must be vaccinated, or offer proof of a medical exception, by November 15, 2021, the First Judicial District (FJD) has announced. Moreover, the FJD will review requests for religious exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Read more.
Practice Areas
CDC Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Applicants for Green Cards
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Posted in Immigration
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of October 1, 2021, all applicants for Green Cards must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
There are some exemptions from the requirement, but anyone who does not qualify for an exemption and refuses vaccination will be inadmissible.
The COVID-19 vaccine joins the list of…
Manufacturers Can Leverage Immigration to Fill Labor Gaps, Address Prevailing Skills Shortage
By Aimee Guthat on
Posted in Immigration
In June 2021, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released the America Works Report, which is based on an analysis of more than 20 years of federal jobs and employment data. Among the findings is that there are approximately half as many available workers for every open job and the ratio continues to fall. While…
At Home COVID-19 Testing and the Path out of the Pandemic
By Joseph J. Lazzarotti on
Posted in Employee Benefits, Workplace Safety and Health
Testing for COVID-19 certainly has evolved over the past 18 months or so. As supply and allocation continue to face challenges, guidance on serological/antibody versus viral testing, testing in the workplace, informed consent, among other things have emerged to help guide coronavirus testing in the workplace. President Biden’s Path out of the…
President Biden Signs Executive Order Announcing Plan For A COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement For Federal Contractor Employees
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, President Biden announced a broad plan that will include as-yet undefined guidance to require federal contractors to “provide adequate COVID-19 safeguards to their workers performing on or in connection with a Federal Government contract or contract-like instrument.” While the President’s remarks and the Administration’s corresponding plan suggest a vaccine…
Texas Legislative Update: What Employers Should Know About the 87th Session
By Kristin L. Bauer & Katrin U. Schatz on
Over its regular and two special sessions, the Texas legislature has passed several bills that are or soon will be in effect and will impact employers’ workplace policies and procedures. Additional special legislative sessions yet may be held and, with them, more changes may be on the horizon. Read more.
Georgia 2021: Unemployment Benefit Developments
By Emily S. Borna & Claire F. Fyvolent on
Posted in Georgia, Wage and Hour
Georgia employers may be experiencing some whiplash from the latest updates to the state’s unemployment and partial unemployment rules and regulations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) amended its Separation Notice form. This is another update in a long line of notable changes to the state’s…
ICE: I-9 Flexibility to Continue Through 2021
By Amy L. Peck, Michael H. Neifach & Otieno B. Ombok on
Posted in Immigration
Once again, at the last moment, ICE has extended “flexibility” for I-9 employment verification. This time, for four more months, until the end of the year, December 31, 2021, due to continuing COVID-19 precautions.
Employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, who work exclusively in a remote setting are temporarily exempt from the physical…
California Face Covering and Vaccine Requirement Round-Up
By Cressinda D. Schlag on
Posted in California, Workplace Safety and Health
In June, with much fanfare, California announced it was reopening and lifting many of the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place through state executive and health department orders. However, as there have been surges of COVID-19 across the state, many state and local orders requiring COVID-19 controls have changed in response. Mask mandates and…
Immigration and Labor Shortages
By Zain Abidi on
Posted in Immigration
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching. The labor shortage plaguing America has been one of the most publicized. Why is it so difficult for some employers to find employees? The 2020 United States Census offers possible reasons: an aging population, decreased fertility rates, and low rates of immigration.
The 7.4% population…