As OSHA and the Department of Labor consider whether to issue a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) for workplaces, many states have already issued their own versions of pandemic workplace rules. They range in style and substance, and federal OSHA has said that it is reviewing the existing state ETS requirements as it looks at what types of provisions to include in any national mandates.…

On January 29, 2021, OSHA posted new guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The latest OSHA guidance standardizes a new name for employer policies: “COVID-19 Prevention Program.” In the guidance, OSHA states employers should implement COVID-19 Prevention Programs in the workplace. Per the agency, the most effective programs engage workers and their union or other representatives in the program’s development and include the following key elements: conducting a hazard…

On January 21, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

As COVID-19 vaccination rolls out in the United States, employers should begin preparing to support vaccination and consider how workplaces will be impacted. There are still many unknowns, and plans will have to remain flexible. To help companies think through these issues, we’ve put together a vaccine planning checklist.…