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Feb 17 2022
COVID-19Leave Laws

Q&A: Don’t be too hasty in deciding time off request is fraudulent

Question: One our employees called in sick, saying he had COVID-19 (coronavirus) symptoms. We approved the sick day. His coworker showed us a video of the “sick” employee on a road trip. He lied to us! Can we fire him? Answer: Be careful when questions arise about the legitimacy of an employee’s request for time…

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Feb 17 2022
Leave LawsWage and HourWashington

Q&A: Employee working from home in Seattle gets Seattle rights

Question: An employee working remotely from her home in Seattle is demanding a raise because the Seattle minimum wage increased this year. Our company doesn’t have any locations or other employees in the city, so Seattle’s laws don’t apply to us, right? Answer: If you have even one employee who works within the Seattle city…

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Feb 17 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaDisability

CALIFORNIA: Masks no longer required for most vaccinated workers

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) order that required everyone to wear masks in indoor public settings regardless of whether they were vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) expired on February 15, 2022, but the order still requires unvaccinated people to wear masks indoors. As we previously reported, the CDPH originally set the universal indoor mask…

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Feb 17 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: Inform employees of your approach to 2022 SPSL

If you employ 26 or more employees, we recommend that you notify any California employees how you will handle retroactive requests for 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL). As we reported in a recent Alert, the 2022 COVID-19 SPSL law (SB 114) takes effect on February 19, 2022, but is retroactive to January 1,…

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Feb 17 2022
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Indoor mask mandate to end March 21, 2022

Washington governor Jay Inslee held a press conference on 2/17/22 and announced that on March 21, 2022, the state will no longer require masks in public indoor spaces (including workplaces) and schools. The following proclamations from the governor have been updated: Proclamation 21-08.01 COVID-19 Safe Workers. Proclamation 20-25.18 COVID-19 Washington Ready. Proclamation 20-03.07 Face Coverings…

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Feb 17 2022
Safety and HealthWashington

Washington manufacturer fined $98K after lockout-tagout fatality

Recently the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced a fine of $98,000 against a manufacturer in Sumas, Washington, due to lockout-tagout violations that resulted in a worker’s death. The employee was inside a tank, cleaning it, when an agitator arm turned on. According to L&I, the company, IKO Pacific, had written procedures for…

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Feb 17 2022
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: General indoor mask mandate to end by March 31, 2022

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recently announced that it will lift its general indoor mask requirements on or before March 31, 2022. On February 7, 2022, OHA replaced its temporary COVID-19 (coronavirus) indoor mask rules with “permanent” rules, which means the indoor mask mandate continues to be in effect (the temporary rules were set to…

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Feb 11 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is back

On February 9, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law reviving supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL). California employers with 26 or more employees will need to provide up to 80 hours of SPSL to employees who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The new COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave…

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Feb 03 2022
Affirmative ActionCOVID-19

Nationwide federal contractor vaccine ruling limited to shots

The federal district court in Georgia that issued a nationwide temporary hold on the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate in December 2021 recently clarified that its ruling was limited to vaccinations only, and not the other portions of the mandate, which address masks, physical distancing, and designation of a COVID-19 coordinator (Georgia v. Biden,…

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Feb 03 2022
COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: Lawmakers plan to bring back supplemental PSL

On January 25, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom and California legislators announced a plan to bring back Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) for employees who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). As we previously reported, California’s previous law that provided SPSL to employees impacted by COVID-19 expired on September 30, 2021. Currently, Governor Newsom and California…

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Feb 03 2022
COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OREGON: Masks and vaccines “permanent” in health care and schools

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recently replaced its temporary rules regarding masks and COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines in health care settings and schools with “permanent” rules, with the intent to rescind them when they’re no longer needed to prevent the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Oregon’s general statewide indoor mask mandate (another temporary rule) is set…

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Feb 03 2022
COVID-19Harassment & DiscriminationSafety and Health

CDC now uses “up to date” instead of “fully vaccinated”

In updated guidance regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccination status, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now uses the term “up to date” instead of “fully vaccinated.” Up to date means individuals have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. Workers are eligible for a booster if at least 5 months have passed…

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