Public health guidance and occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations and guidance on both the state and federal level have been changing rapidly. It is critical that your company stays informed and understands new COVID-19 safety and health regulations, guidance, enforcement, and trends.
Here are some new legal developments and trends related to COVID-19 that will impact workplaces and that you should keep in mind as you prepare for the remainder of 2021:
- Update COVID-19 related policies and procedures to reflect new CDC, local health department, and OSH guidance and regulations (including at the federal and state levels). Health care employers will need to carefully review the Fed/OSHA COVID-19 emergency standard. Provide notice and training to employees on new policies and procedures.
- Although requirements for vaccinated employees have been relaxed in many circumstances, employers must continue to require additional COVID-19 precautions and protections for unvaccinated and immunocompromised employees.
- California employers must procure respirators for voluntary use for unvaccinated employees.
- Stay informed on federal, state, and local COVID-19-related guidance, regulations, and orders. As employees return to the workplace, employers should consider how to incorporate new guidance for fully vaccinated employees and how that impacts non-vaccinated employees and workplace safety considerations (see NP's alert from May 26, 2021, New CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people has employers asking "What do we do on vaccinations?")
Please reach out to me, my co-presenters, Benjamin Kim, Shelagh Michaud, and Maritza Martin, or your Nixon Peabody Labor & Employment attorney with any questions you might have or to discuss how we can assist you in preparing for the year ahead.