Carmody @ Work

The Connecticut Legislature’s “short session” ended on May 4, 2022. While many bills were proposed that would have significantly impacted the workplace, only a handful have been signed into law. Below is a summary of some key new laws, and some bills that did not pass but could be resurrected next year. Expansion of the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA). The CFEPA prohibits discrimination and harassment based on various protected classes and prohibits retaliation…

Carmody @ Work

What’s On Tap for Employers in the 2022 Connecticut Legislation Session?

By Nick Zaino

March 15, 2022

The 2022 legislative session is in full swing with a slate of bills that have been advanced in the Labor Committee. Some of these bills are ones that have been proposed in the past, while others are new proposals. These bills have the potential to impact your workplace and, therefore, it is important to speak up and reach out to your state representatives if you have any concerns. Here is a rundown of some bills…

Carmody @ Work

Given the Times, An HR Audit Would Be Prudent

By Nick Zaino & Romania Morley

February 16, 2022

There is no doubt that the ongoing pandemic has significantly changed the workplace. An increasing number of employees are working remotely, and there has been a high level of turnover in connection with the “Great Resignation”. We also have seen the federal government, many states—including Connecticut—and cities pass employment laws that provide greater employee rights that are reshaping the workplace. In the dawn of this new era, employers would be well-advised to conduct a…

Carmody @ Work

The Great Resignation: Ideas for Improving Retention

By Nick Zaino & Romania Jawahir

January 18, 2022

The “Great Resignation” reached a peak in November 2021 as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that a record-breaking 4.5 million workers voluntarily resigned from their employment. This represented an increase of almost 9% from October 2021 and was the largest number of resignations in more than 20 years. In what Industries are people resigning? According to the BLS, the top fields most affected by the resignations are: leisure and hospitality; trade,…

Carmody @ Work

OSHA’s “vaccine or test” mandate stayed (again)

By Vincent Farisello, Stephanie E. Cummings & Romania Jawahir

January 13, 2022

Earlier this afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay blocking the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) from enforcing its “vaccine or test” mandate previously imposed on businesses with 100 or more employees. This case will return to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals for the underlying merits to be litigated. The stay means that employers are not required to comply with the “vaccine or test” mandate at this time. This could change, however,…

Carmody @ Work

Health Plan Reimbursement of Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests

By Mark Williams & Timothy S. Klimpl

January 13, 2022

Effective January 15, 2022, group health plans and insurers are required to cover the cost of over-the counter (OTC), at home, COVID-19 tests. The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury have issued FAQs guidance regarding the requirement for health plans and insurers to provide reimbursement of the cost of OTC COVID-19 tests. Employers should communicate with their insurer as the insurer has the option to either provide reimbursement to the…

Carmody @ Work

Form I-9 Remote Review Extended to April 30, 2022

By Anthony El-Hashem & Romania Jawahir

December 21, 2021

On December 15, 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a 120-day extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted on March 20, 2020. The temporary policy allowing employers to inspect Form I-9 documents remotely is extended until April 30, 2022. The extension continues to apply the guidance previously issued for employees who were hired on or after April 1, 2021 and work exclusively in a remote setting…

Carmody @ Work

Stay lifted on OSHA mandates for large employers

By Stephanie E. Cummings & Romania Jawahir

December 20, 2021

On December 17, 2021, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). This allows OSHA to enforce the ETS, including the requirement that large employers (100 or more employees) implement vaccination or weekly testing protocols. OSHA announced that employers “exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance…” will have until January 10, 2022 to issue compliant policies and until February 9, 2022 to be fully compliant…

Carmody @ Work

OSHA and CMS Issue New COVID-19 Requirements

By Nick Zaino & Jasmine Cooper-Little

November 12, 2021

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued new COVID-19 rules for most employers in the private sector with 100 or more employees. The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on Vaccination and Testing became effective on November 5, 2021. However, just one day after on November 6, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay of the OSHA ETS that applies nationally. While the current fate of the OSHA ETS is uncertain,…

Carmody @ Work

President Biden Lifts Country-Specific Travel Bans and Adopts a Global Vaccine-based Policy

By Anthony El-Hashem

November 12, 2021

On Monday, November 8, 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation entitled, “Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel” (the “Proclamation”). The Proclamation revokes prior presidential proclamations that suspended and restricted the entry of noncitizen nonimmigrants from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, the Republic of South Africa, and India in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is welcome news for businesses as these previous proclamations prevented many employers…