Lewis Roca Blog

On November 4, 2021, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing.

On Friday, July 9th, the White House issued an Executive Order on ‘Promoting Competition in the American Economy’. The Executive Order directs over a dozen federal agencies to undertake 72 initiatives that address “…some of the most pressing competition problems across our economy…”.

After much haggling, Congress passed its second major COVID-related relief package on December 21, 2020. The $900 billion package is included in the 5,593-page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which is expected to be signed by President Trump shortly and will provide funding for the federal government between now and the end of the current fiscal year on September 30, 2021.

On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued new guidance to employers that want to require employees to get Covid-19 vaccinations when they become available to most Americans. The guidance also outlines the steps that employers must take before they can exclude unvaccinated employees from their facilities and job sites.

BOK Financial Insurance hosted a webinar on Thursday, September 10 with industry experts who provided insights and recommendations on navigating the increased presence of teleworking as well as considerations when preparing your workplace for employees to return to the office.

HR can be especially challenging for smaller employers with limited resources and can be even more challenging for business during the COVID-19 rebuilding period. In these difficult times, it is important to be prepared for the new normal in the workplace. This webinar slide deck aims to discuss some of the most critical areas you need to be aware of to avoid HR-related fines, lawsuits, or penalties.

On June 11, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued new guidance that addresses numerous pandemic-related topics. 

On June 5, 2020, President Trump signed into law the latest COVID-19 relief-related legislation: the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Act”). As stated in the title of the Act, the purpose of this legislation is to provide the recipients of PPP loans greater flexibility in the use of loan funds, while maintaining eligibility for loan forgiveness.

Although many employers in the construction industry have continued to operate as essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, some have allowed certain employees to work from home where possible. As states begin to loosen restrictions and “reopen” for business in the coming weeks and months, construction employers will need to implement new, and possibly permanent, policies and guidelines designed to keep the construction workforce safe.

Congress Passes the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

Watch the webinar now to review the details of the new stimulus package that was signed into law Friday, March 27, 2020.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was passed by Congress and signed by the President on March 27, 2020. This stimulus package is more than double the amount provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was passed during the Great Recession. The 880-page bill includes substantial aid for both employed and unemployed Americans, the public health system, and employers of all sizes, including nonprofit organizations.

The outbreak of the respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus continues to present many issues for employers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the disease to continue to spread throughout the country for the next several months. Meanwhile, Congress has passed new federal legislation that provides relief for some employees affected by COVID-19.