On April 20, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York State’s Budget for fiscal year 2025. The enacted Budget includes appropriation bills and other legislation required to carry out the budget for the coming fiscal year. Among hundreds of new initiatives, the Budget includes several bills that impact New York employers
Coronavirus
CDC Ends 5-Day Isolation Guideline for COVID-19, Impacting New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Requirements
On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) repealed its previous guidance advising a 5-day isolation period for individuals testing positive for COVID-19 and issued consolidated guidance on “Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick.” The new guidance provides unified recommendations for isolation and other precautions for individuals…
COVID Screening Time Not Compensable, Says Illinois District Court
In an opinion issued on December 7, 2023, a federal district court in the Northern District of Illinois held that time spent in COVID screening activities was not compensable under federal or Illinois law.
In the underlying collective and class action, Johnson v. Amazon.com Services, LLC, the plaintiffs—warehouse employees whose job duties included moving…
Texas Bans COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Employees and Contractors
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law SB 7, which bans private employers of any size from imposing or enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates as a condition of employment. The law will take effect on February 6, 2024.
Specifically, under the law, a covered employer will not be permitted to:
- adopt or enforce a
…
Florida Expands Ban on Vaccination, Testing and Masking Mandates
On May 11, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a “medical freedom” bill (SB 252), which amends and expands the existing Florida statute Section 381.00316, prohibiting businesses from requiring their customers and patrons to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination status. Under the amended law, businesses in Florida will be prohibited from discriminating…
EEOC Issues Updated “Capstone” Guidance on COVID-19 After Declaration of End of Public Health Emergency
On May 15, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released updates to its “technical assistance” on COVID-19-related discrimination concerns in the workplace. The updated guidelines come in response to President Biden recently signing legislation that ended the COVID-19 National Emergency.
EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows called this installment of “the capstone to our…