In response to rising COVID-19 case rates, on December 13, 2021, the Philadelphia Department of Health announced a vaccine mandate for patrons and staff of all establishments that sell food or drink for on-site consumption within Philadelphia city limits.
After the passage of Florida Statute 381.00317, employers with employees in Florida were left with new rules relating to COVID-19 vaccination policies, in many instances contrary to the signaled direction of federal government rules and guidance.
On December 7, 2021, Ontario announced it would extend the availability of Paid Infectious Disease Leave until July 31, 2022, and the temporary relief measures from the termination and severance provisions of the ESA until July 30, 2022.
On December 10, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that face masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces in New York State, effective December 13, 2021.
On December 7, 2021, a federal court in Georgia issued an order enjoining the president, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, and 18 executive agencies and departments from enforcing the vaccine mandate that was established for federal contractors.
On Monday, December 6, 2021, New York City announced a first-in-the-nation vaccine mandate for private-sector employers, which must now require vaccinations for all employees who work in person in the city.
The NYC Council passed a bill amending its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act requiring all private-sector employers to provide their employees with 4 hours of paid COVID-19 leave for each of their children, per injection, retroactive to Nov. 2, 2021.
