Did you know . . .

There have been several recent employment law developments on the federal level.

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) issued revised guidance to employers related to minimizing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.  As part of this guidance, OSHA finally has aligned with recommendations from the Centers from Disease Control (CDC) that vaccinated employees can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations.  The guidance focuses on how employers can protect unvaccinated and other high-risk workers in the workplace.

On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a bill, making Juneteenth (June 19), the commemoration of the end of slavery, a federal holiday.  While this new law only requires federal employers to observe the holiday, many private employers follow the federal holidays for providing paid holidays for their employees.  Employers, therefore, may want to review and decide whether to revise their holiday schedules to align with the new holiday.

On this same day, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), rejecting a challenge to the law’s individual mandate.  Though the heart of the Court’s decision was the plaintiff’s inability to bring the lawsuit (i.e. lack of standing), the ruling is a reminder that employers must continue to comply with the ACA’s requirements, including the shared responsibility and reporting requirements.

Stayed tuned for more updates from our Vogel Law Firm employment law team.