2,000 COVID-19-Related Employment Lawsuits Filed in the U.S.: An Analysis of the Data and TrendsOn April 6, 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related employment complaints filed in United States courts passed the 2,000 mark. Although it took eight months to reach the first 1,000 complaints (March–November 2020), it took less than five months to go from 1,000 to 2,000. Indeed, December 2020 through March 2021 included the four busiest... Continue Reading…April 9, 2021 |
Lawmakers Seek Clarity on EEOC Regulations Concerning Incentives for COVID-19 VaccinationsProviding incentives for employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be on the minds of organizations as vaccinations pick up speed. However, concerns about privacy and the shifting positions on wellness program regulation has left many employers wary about implementing more robust incentives. According to Bloomberg, two GOP members of Congress are urging the... Continue Reading…April 9, 2021 |
Philadelphia Enacts COVID-19 Paid Sick LeavePhiladelphia has joined a growing list of localities to require employers to provide employees paid COVID-19-related sick leave. When the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expired on December 31, 2020, many employees lost guaranteed paid COVID-19-related leave. As of March 29, 2021, employers with employees working in Philadelphia must provide them paid COVID-19-related sick leave. The new 2021 Public Health Emergency... Continue Reading…April 8, 2021 |
New USCIS Policy on P-1 (Internationally Recognized Athletes) Eligibility RequirementsUSCIS has issued a new policy guidance clarifying eligibility requirements for internationally recognized athletes (P-1A nonimmigrants). Effective immediately, the policy applies to P-1A petitions filed on or after March 26, 2021. The policy explains some of the statutory definitions. For instance, a “major United States sports league” means one that has a distinguished reputation, commensurate... Continue Reading…April 7, 2021 |
Reminder Regarding Right of Recalls as Reopening RestartsAs more counties move toward the Orange Tier on the state reopening guidance, businesses can reopen or operate under less restrictive requirements. This may mean employers need more employees than in the last several months. Though last year, the Governor vetoed a statewide right of recall requirement, several cities still have ordinances in place. The... Continue Reading…April 7, 2021 |
Travel 2.0: Vaccine Passports and Visas—What’s Next on the HorizonOne of industries perhaps hardest hit by the coronavirus, the travel industry, received welcomed news late last week in the form of CDC guidance stating that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume domestic travel and do not need to get tested for COVID-19 before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel. According to the... Continue Reading…April 5, 2021 |
Happy National Employee Benefits Day, April 6, 2021!You didn’t know it was a thing? Or maybe, like most, you just lost track of what day it is? Or maybe it ranks somewhere behind New Beer’s Eve (the day before the end of prohibition) and National Tartan Day, both of which are most certainly things and also fall on April 6th. If there... Continue Reading…April 5, 2021 |
Temporary Suspension of Entry Ends for Certain H, L, J Visa CategoriesThe restrictions on the issuance of H-1B, L-1, and J-1 nonimmigrant “guest-worker” visas, which have been in place since June 24, 2020, expired without fanfare on March 31, 2021. As a result, U.S. consulates around the world will resume issuing H-1B, L-1, and J-1 visas without the need for an additional national interest exception application.... Continue Reading…April 1, 2021 |
ICE Announces Extension for Temporary Flexibility for I-9 Compliance to May 31ICE has announced that I-9 flexibility will be continued for another 60 days, until May 31, 2021. Here is ICE’s full announcement. With this extension, ICE specifically noted that employees hired on or after April 1, 2021 who work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19 related precautions will be exempt from the I-9... Continue Reading…March 31, 2021 |
COVID-19 Pandemic New Year: What Employers Should KnowThe country begins the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic with optimism because of three Emergency Use Authorization vaccines and President Joe Biden’s direction that all states make all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1, 2021. As more workers return to work in person, there are key considerations for employers in the coming months.... Continue Reading…March 30, 2021 |