www.eeoc.gov Information related to federal non-discrimination laws, including how employers are affected under these laws by COVID-19 issues www.dol.gov Information related to federal wage and hour laws and the Family Medical Leave Act, including answers to frequent questions related to COVID-19. www.dfeh.ca.gov Information related to California non-discrimination laws, including how employers are affected under these… …

by Dana M. Silva By now, most people have heard of President Biden’s vaccination policy aimed at employers with 100 or more employees, implemented through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s recently released Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) titled “COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard.”  President Biden has already issued a vaccination policy aimed at… …

by Teresa R. Tracy The Federal Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) expired December 31, 2020.[1]  This leave was extended through March 31, 2021 for employers who voluntarily decided to extend it under the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 (Tax Relief Act), which was enacted in December 2020.  The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) further… …

As California businesses resume their usual operations and see their staffing needs slowly expand to pre-pandemic levels, employers will now need to contend with the state’s newly enacted employee recall requirements.  On April 16, 2021 Governor Newsom enacted Senate Bill 93 which requires employers in certain industries to prioritize the rehiring of workers laid off… …

California’s COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave law expired December 31, 2020.  On March 19, 2021 Governor Newsom enacted a new law which expands upon the prior sick leave benefits and imposes new workplace notice obligations upon employers.  The law goes into effect March 29, 2021 and is retroactive to January 1, 2021.  It is set… …

In April 2020 Los Angeles County issued an interim urgency ordinance to establish supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons for employees of businesses with 500 or more employees nationally.  That ordinance expired on 12/31/20.  However, last week the County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to extend the sick leave benefits under the original… …

We can all agree that 2021 can’t come soon enough.  However, before leaping into the new year, California employers should ensure that they are up to date on the latest modifications to the State’s ever-evolving employment laws. Expansion of Family Leave Rights The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) which has historically mirrored the federal Family… …

by Teresa R. Tracy AB 5, the controversial California landmark legislation that dramatically changed the landscape of independent contractor versus employee status, has barely been in place since it became effective January 1, 2020.  It was followed by much gnashing of teeth by both businesses and many independent contractors who found their relationships altered in… …

by Teresa R. Tracy EEOC Further Updates COVID-19 Guidance to Address Ongoing Questions On September 9, 2020, the EEOC issued updated Guidance regarding the interplay between COVID-19 and the laws that it enforces.  All of the materials that the EEOC has which are related to COVID-19 can be found at www.eeoc.gov/coronavirus. The new Guidance makes… …

by Teresa R. Tracy The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is regularly updating previously-issued Technical Assistance Questions and Answers (i.e., issued March 17, March 18, April 9, April 17, 2020). It did so again on April 23, 2020. Our summary of prior updates can be found here and here. The EEOC continues to emphasize that… …