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Policies / Handbooks

5th Circuit refuses to lift stay on OSHA covid mandate

11/16/2021
A panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has reaffirmed a previous order that prevented OSHA’s vaccinate-or-test covid-safety mandate from taking effect. The move adds uncertainty to a process driven by looming deadlines.

Mark these dates on vax mandate calendar

11/11/2021
The starkest deadline written into the OSHA vaccine mandate standard for large employers is Jan. 4, 2022. However, most of the hard compliance work must happen a month earlier. Don’t count on legal challenges slowing down an aggressive timeline for meeting OSHA’s requirements. You have just days to reach critical milestones.

Craft vaccine mandate policy that complies with OSHA standard

11/09/2021
The OSHA emergency temporary standard requiring large employers to ensure employees are vaccinated against covid-19 stipulates that employers must “establish, implement and enforce a written mandatory vaccine policy.” Guidance issued Nov. 4 contains sample policy language that OSHA encourages employers to adapt and include in their handbooks. Here are some of the elements such a policy should include.

Snapshot: Vax mandates edge steadily upward

11/09/2021
More than one-third of U.S. workers say their employer requires them to be vaccinated against covid-19.

5th Circuit orders temporary halt to vaccine mandate rule

11/09/2021
A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay Nov. 6 blocking enforcement of OSHA’s emergency temporary standard requiring covid-19 vaccinations or weekly covid testing for workers at organizations with 100 or more employees.

Some employers get their own vaccine mandates

11/08/2021
The 5th Circuit has temporarily put OSHA’s vaccine mandate standard on hold. Today we’re highlighting employers subject to (or in some cases, not subject to) vaccine mandates that are separate but equivalent to the mandate.

OSHA issues mandate: Vax or test by Jan. 4

11/04/2021
Large employers have a choice under a new OSHA emergency temporary standard: Either require employees to be vaccinated against covid-19 or require unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly covid-19 testing and wear masks at work.

How to handle faith-based exemptions from vax mandate

11/04/2021
The EEOC has just issued guidance on when and how to accept, process and grant religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. Here’s what the EEOC calls for.

First impressions: What you need to know about OSHA’s vaccine mandate

11/04/2021
Our imperative is to get basic information out to you as soon as possible and then more later, after we’ve had time to study the ETS. So fasten your seatbelt; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Review points-based attendance system now

10/28/2021
Some employers use a points-based system to punish employees whose unplanned absences wreak havoc on operations. It can be effective. However, a system that’s too draconian or doesn’t allow for reasonable exceptions may invite litigation, especially from employees who claim they have an ADA-covered disability.