On December 21, 2021, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued Public Health Order 2021-2, a vaccine mandate for certain public accommodations that is meant to help curb the spread of COVID-19 as the Omicron variant continues to surge.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently set forth the appropriate method for determining whether two companies are “joint employers” for purposes of the Massachusetts wage and hour laws.
On December 20, 2021, the City of Boston announced a new vaccination mandate, known as “B Together." The mandate applies to certain indoor establishments, including restaurants, entertainment venues, and gyms, and it covers employees as well as patrons.
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court recently held that when a plaintiff prevails in a discrimination lawsuit, any award of back pay must be reduced by any income earned from other means before applying the double penalty provided by local laws.
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.
