Author: Matthew J. Roberts, Esq.

4110
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Mandatory Vaccination Order Now Covers Direct Care Workers

On August 5, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a statewide mandatory vaccination order for most health care facilities. However, certain caregiver…

4523
Posted in Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

Applicants’ Workers’ Comp Claim History Can’t Be Used for Screening

We work in an industry that is at a higher risk for workplace injury. In an effort to keep our workers’ compensation costs lower, can…

9146
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Time Off

COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Expiration Approaches

For nearly the entirety of the pandemic, either the federal or California governments have required most employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees…

ban on mandatory arbitrations
4047
Posted in Hiring Workplace Policies

9th Circuit Allows California’s Ban on Mandatory Arbitrations to Proceed

On September 15, 2021 in a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that prohibited California from…

3404
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

Coming Soon: U.S. Emergency Rule Establishing a Large Employer Vaccination or Testing Mandate

On September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. Department of Labor through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is working to create an…

3610
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Local Ordinances

City of Berkeley Issues Mandatory Vaccination Order for Certain Businesses

As we keep seeing during the pandemic, local public health agencies can issue public health orders that will supersede state orders. On August 5, 2021,…

5609
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disabilities

Understanding Religious Accommodations for Mandatory Vaccination Policies

COVID-19 vaccines continue dominating the news as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now provided full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for…

5192
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

Clearing Confusion About Current COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules

With COVID-19 cases back on the rise and mitigation strategies, like face covering mandates, back, it feels like we have jumped into a time machine…

4561
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

Off Again, On Again: LA County Renews Face Covering Mandate

On July 16, 2021 — one month after California moved to reopen in full — the Los Angeles County Public Health Department revised its public…

Juneteenth
4799
Posted in Holiday Pay

Employers Not Required to Provide Holiday Pay for Federal Holidays

Now that Juneteenth (June 19) has become a federal holiday, are we required to provide holiday pay to our employees for that day? When President…