On October 12, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive order prohibiting businesses and employers from requiring employees and consumers who object to getting a COVID-19 vaccine for reasons of personal conscience, religious belief or medical reasons (including prior
Continue Reading Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Vaccine Mandates
Kelly Hart Hallman LLP Blogs
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Federal Vaccine Testing Mandate for Large Employers is not Workable
Last week President Biden announced that he was directing OSHA to develop and publish an emergency temporary standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination or undergo weekly testing. According to the
Continue Reading Federal Vaccine Testing Mandate for Large Employers is not Workable
Biden Directs OSHA to Issue Emergency Standard Mandating Large Employers Require COVID-19 Vaccinations of Workforce or Weekly Testing
Yesterday, President Biden announced that he is directing the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) to engage in emergency temporary rule making and issue a standard requiring employers with more than 100 employees to cause their employees to either be
Continue Reading Biden Directs OSHA to Issue Emergency Standard Mandating Large Employers Require COVID-19 Vaccinations of Workforce or Weekly Testing
Employers Overcoming Reservations about Requiring COVID Vaccination as a Condition of Employment
Employers are overcoming their reluctance to require that employees become vaccinated against the COVD-19 virus as a condition of employment. Microsoft, Google, Tyson Foods and many health care providers have announced they will require their employees who work on-site to
Continue Reading Employers Overcoming Reservations about Requiring COVID Vaccination as a Condition of Employment
Texas Legislature Expands Scope of Liability for Claims of Sexual Harassment
Effective September 1, 2021, a pair of bills passed by the Texas Legislature will expand the scope of employer liability for claims of sexual harassment. The bill makes four important amendments to the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (“Act”).
Continue Reading Texas Legislature Expands Scope of Liability for Claims of Sexual Harassment
Employers Considering Options to Increase Vaccination Rates of their Workforces
With increase in infections from Delta COVID variant among the unvaccinated and the anticipated return to in-office work, employers are considering options to increase the percentage of fully vaccinated employees in the workforce. These include mandatory vaccine requirements and incentive
Continue Reading Employers Considering Options to Increase Vaccination Rates of their Workforces
Texas Employees Can Reject Suitable Work and Maintain Unemployment Benefits
A day after reporting that Texas employees rejecting a return to suitable work for fear of contracting COVID-19 could lose unemployment benefits, Govenor Abbott announced that the TWC has promulgated rules allowing employees to continue receipt of benefits even if
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Texas Employees Who Refuse to Return to Work May Lose Unemployment Benefits
When Congress was drafting the enhanced unemployment benefits available under the FFCRA some lawmakers opposed the additional $600 per week benefit because it could incentivize workers to remain on unemployment rather than returning to work. As Texas prepares to
Continue Reading Texas Employees Who Refuse to Return to Work May Lose Unemployment Benefits
Employer Considerations for Returning Employees After COVID-19 Shutdowns
The President and governors of individual states are discussing plans to reopen businesses in the coming weeks. Some of the measures employers will be required to take will be dictated by governmental agencies and for particular industries. A few of
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DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA Expansion Acts
On April 1, 2020, the DOL issued its regulations on the paid leave provision of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (i.e., the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act). While there is a
Continue Reading DOL Issues Temporary Regulations on Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA Expansion Acts