Employee Health

As California employers rightfully reflect on their accomplishments from 2023, it is time to look ahead to 2024 and make sure your company’s New Year’s Resolutions include the following: Employee Handbook/Policy Changes 2024 Paid Sick Leave Changes: As of January 1, 2024, most employers are required to provide 5 days/40 hours of paid sick leave…

On October 4, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 616 and expanded California’s sick leave law, the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014. As a result, California employers must be prepared to comply by January 1, 2024, notably by increasing the amount of paid sick leave provided to employees. Paid Sick Leave Under…

The employment law landscape is always shifting, and there’s a lot to navigate, especially as the pandemic drags into its third year. On February 14, 2022, Hirschfeld Kraemer lawyers Steve Hirschfeld, Hieu Williams, Monte Grix, and Ferry Lopez presented a 90-minute webinar providing insight on the hottest developments in labor and employment law in 2021,…

Citing a spike in new COVID cases following the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an indoor mask mandate that will remain in place through January 15, 2022. Starting December 15, 2021, all persons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask in all indoor public settings.   California employers located in…

On November 4, 2021, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), requiring employers with over 100 employees to implement a mandatory COVID vaccination policy, or alternatively a policy requiring employees either to be vaccinated or be tested weekly and be masked in the workplace. Employers must comply…

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed two Executive Orders mandating COVID-19 vaccines for federal employees and for employees of federal contractors, and also signaled that the Department of Labor (DOL) would be issuing an Emergency Rule requiring vaccines for employers with 100 or more employees. These sweeping mandates should have…

Several Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties, as well as the city of Berkeley, have joined Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Yolo counties in requiring that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors. These mandates follow recent guidance from the U.S. Centers…

**UPDATE** August 3, 2021 — – Bay Area Reinstates Indoor Masking For All, Regardless of Vaccination Status *** **UPDATE** July 16, 2021 — – Los Angeles County Reinstates Indoor Masking For All, Regardless of Vaccination Status The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced on Thursday, July 15, 2021 that, due to rising cases of…

Widespread confusion about the conflicting guidelines coming from federal, state, and local authorities on how to safely reopen the workplace has left many employers scratching their heads. •  To mask or not to mask? •  Can I require employees to provide proof of vaccination? •  How do I deal with unvaccinated employees? •  and other workplace…

** UPDATE** August 3, 2021 – See the latest on mask guidelines HERE * * * June 11, 2021: Employers Advised To Maintain Current Policies Pending June 17 Meeting In yet another twist in the controversy regarding whether fully vaccinated employees in California will be required to wear masks at work, after an emergency meeting on…