At their final meeting of the year, city councilors in Portland, Maine left the city’s existing COVID-19 emergency order in place, thereby triggering a hazard pay requirement and creating a $19.50 hourly wage starting January 1, 2022.
In two days, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi issued back-to-back executive orders, establishing greater restrictions on mass activities, food and drink establishments, and air passengers arriving on the Island.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced that employers may wait to begin collecting premiums from employees for the new Washington Cares Act, while legislation is under consideration to formalize this collection pause.
On the evening of December 17, 2021, the Sixth Circuit dissolved the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the federal OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which imposes “vaccinate or test” requirements for private employers.
On December 16, 2021, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted its second set of proposed revisions to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 ETS. Governor Newsom also issued a surprise order clearing the way for a potential third readoption.
On December 17, 2021, when the deadline for implementing the EU Whistleblowing Directive expires – or, at the latest, when corresponding national whistleblower protection laws come into force – member states will face changes in whistleblower protection.
There have been significant developments in the legal challenges brought against the interim final rule of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which requires vaccination of all healthcare workers at CMS-covered facilities throughout the U.S.
On December 15, 2021, the full city council approved a bill that would amend the New York City Human Rights Law in a way that would fundamentally alter the way job advertisements are posted.
On December 15, 2021, New York City published guidance and FAQs on its vaccine mandate Separately, Mayor de Blasio issued a revised emergency order expanding the Key to NYC Pass.
In 2021, Canada saw significant statutory and case law developments in labour and employment law, some of which related to COVID-19. This Insight provides an overview of key 2021 developments, with links to more detailed articles and commentary.
