Released on July 29, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on return to work. This version has been revised to address an inconsistency for critical infrastructure employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 (the CDC has not updated that guidance since December). To make this section consistent with the CDC’s new guidance for vaccinated employees, that section now states that asymptomatic critical infrastructure employees can continue to work but, regardless of vaccination status, employees should be tested 3-5 days following the known exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Unvaccinated employees should continue to mask and practice other precautions (e.g. social distancing) outdoors as well for 14 days or until a negative test result is received.
Continue Reading CDC Updates Guidance for Critical Infrastructure Employee Exposure
Updated CDC Guidance on Quarantine Length for Exposed Individuals
On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for the employment setting for a fully vaccinated individual who is asymptomatic but was in close contact with someone with COVID-19. While isolation is still not recommended, the CDC now recommends that the individual get tested 3-5 days after the
Spell Quoted on COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccinations Article in Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
Maggie Spell, a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group, was recently quoted in the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report article “Mandate or Not? The Question Vexing Employers Over COVID-19 Vaccine.” Maggie explains that as vaccines become more readily available, employers should consider the possible courses of action for vaccinations in their
DOL Eases FMLA Compliance Regarding Telemedicine Visits and Required Postings
On December 29, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued two guidance bulletins addressing compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The first made clear that telemedicine visits will permanently[1] be allowed as an FMLA-approved visit if certain conditions are met. The second permits employers to provide FMLA-required postings electronically to employees when the work is being performed remotely.Continue Reading DOL Eases FMLA Compliance Regarding Telemedicine Visits and Required Postings
Return to School Raises FFCRA Leave Questions
With kids going back to school, new questions regarding eligibility for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) are cropping up. Thankfully, the Department of Labor (DOL) recently supplemented its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to answer some of the questions that have arisen thus far.
Continue Reading Return to School Raises FFCRA Leave Questions
COVID-19 Back-to-Work Toolkit: Helping Businesses Protect Lives and Livelihoods
Companies and organizations worldwide are facing a difficult question: As the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic shifts gears from emergency to maintenance, how can we reopen and run our businesses — from Day One and beyond — in a manner that preserves jobs and generates revenue without risking the health and safety of our employees and customers? The answers to this question are not simple, nor is there a one-size-fits-all solution.
Continue Reading COVID-19 Back-to-Work Toolkit: Helping Businesses Protect Lives and Livelihoods