New York Requires all New York Employers to Implement Their HERO Act Plans

On September 6, 2021, the New York State Department of Health (NYDOH) designated COVID-19 a highly contagious communicable disease under New York’s HERO Act. The HERO Act was enacted in May 2021 and required all employers in New York to adopt an Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Plan. The HERO required all New York businesses to adopt either the model plan, published by the New York Department of Labor (NYDOL), or an alternate plan by August 5, 2021. The plans needed to be distributed to employees by September 4, 2021. The Model Plan prepared by the NYDOL can be found here.

Employment LawMichael MoreaSeptember 10, 2021New York, COVID-19, employee safety, employment policies, workplace policies

OSHA Revises its COVID-19 Guidance for Employers

As we previously posted, in June 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published Guidance on Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace. On August 13, 2021, OSHA updated its Guidance based upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recently updated recommendation that fully vaccinated individuals should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas of “substantial or high transmission.”

OSHA Updates its COVID-19 Guidance for Employers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published Guidance on Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace. The guidance, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals, is no longer recommending that employers take steps to protect their fully vaccinated workers who are not otherwise at risk, from COVID-19 exposure, unless required by state or local law. The new guidance, however, sets forth specific requirements for employers concerning unvaccinated or “at-risk” workers.

New Jersey (Re) Issues COVID-19 Safety Requirements for All Businesses and Provides for Increased Enforcement Actions

On October 28, 2020, New Jersey’s Governor, Phil Murphy, issued his latest COVID-19 related executive order, Executive Order No. 192, which sets forth minimum COVID-19 safety requirements for all businesses that require or permit in-person workers. The requirements become effective November 5, 2020, at 6 a.m.. The good news for most employers is that the requirements largely consist of safety precautions already required by Governor Murphy’s previous executive orders and existing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Employment LawMichael MoreaOctober 30, 2020coronavirus, employee safety, New Jersey

COVID-19 Resources for New Jersey and New York Employers

As businesses continue to emerge from the COVID-19 shutdowns and adapt to the new normal, they continue to face evolving requirements and guidance at the federal and state level. This post compiles key resources for businesses operating in New Jersey and New York.

Business Owners Must Plan for COVID-19 Related Issues as Businesses Begin to Reopen

Both New Jersey and New York have started to take the first steps back in reopening businesses that have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As restrictions continue to be lifted, business owners need to plan how best to make their workplaces safe for employees and the public.

Preparing Your Business for the Coronavirus

The ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) raises numerous potential issues for employers. These include legal issues ranging from an employer’s obligation to provide a safe workplace and employee leave rights to practical matters such as whether to restrict business travel and allowing employees to work remotely. As the situation continues to develop, employers should prepare in case COVID-19 impacts their workforces by:

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