Seyfarth Synopsis: On February 9, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted the 2022 iteration of California’s COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave law. The new law will be effective Saturday February 19, 2022 (10 days after enactment). It is retroactive to January 1, 2022, and expires on September 30, 2022.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

As you may recall, California’s Supplemental Paid
Continue Reading Groundhog Day: California Reenacts COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

Seyfarth Synopsis: As of January 14, 2022, California employers must ensure that their COVID-19 health and safety protocols are compliant with Cal/OSHA’s Latest COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the nationwide Federal OSHA ETS vaccine mandate does not impact these separate California-specific requirements, which employers must still comply with here.

Once The Rage,
Continue Reading Beat Goes On In California Though Federal ETS On Mute

Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 12, 2021, the City and County of San Francisco issued an order requiring certain businesses offering food services or fitness services indoors to check for proof of full vaccination. This requirement will apply to patrons 12 years and older, effective August 20, 2021. Staff must be fully vaccinated by October 13, 2021. This order also extended
Continue Reading From VIP Lists to Vaccine Cards: Expanding Vaccination Requirements

Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 5, 2021, California’s Public Health Department ordered “health care” workers to provide proof that they received their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 30, 2021. Unlike the July 26, 2021, Order, the August 5 Order does not allow workers to avoid the vaccine mandate by testing regularly, except for workers who claim a
Continue Reading Health Care Workers In a World of Pure Vaccination

Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 26, 2021, Governor Newsom, announced that California state workers and workers in “health care” and “high-risk congregate settings” will be mandated to either show proof of being fully vaccinated, or be tested for COVID-19 at least weekly. The mandate also encourages all local governments and other employers to adopt a similar protocol. The California Department of
Continue Reading California’s Mandate: Give Me Vaccinations, Or Give Me Tests!

Seyfarth Synopsis: Following a rollercoaster ride that lasted for weeks, and culminated in another 4.5 hour long marathon meeting, on June 17, 2021, Cal/OSHA finally approved a revised version of its Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). While the revised ETS aligns closer to guidance issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”)
Continue Reading Finally! Cal/OSHA Approves Revised Emergency Temporary Standard

Seyfarth Synopsis: Following its June 3, 2021 meeting, when the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to approve Cal/OSHA’s controversial revisions to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), the Board convened an emergency meeting on June 9, 2021, where it voted unanimously to pull back the revisions. On June 11, 2021, the Board released a proposed do-over —the third attempt at an
Continue Reading Fast and Furious 3: Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard Drift

Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 3, 2021, the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) voted late in the evening to approve Cal/OSHA’s proposed revised Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The revised ETS fails to align with the relaxed measures recommended by the CDC and the Governor’s plans to end virtually all mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated individuals
Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Standards Board Approves Controversial Changes to COVID-19 ETS

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) was supposed to consider changes to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on May 20, 2021. But after the CDC published a May 13, 2021 guidance saying that fully vaccinated individuals could resume pre-pandemic activities without masks, Cal/OSHA asked the OSHSB to delay its consideration of the
Continue Reading For Real Now: Cal/OSHA Board Considering Changes to COVID-19 ETS

Seyfarth Synopsis: Santa Clara recently issued an order that requires employers to ascertain and document their workers’ vaccination status by June 1, 2021. This directive has left businesses confused and concerned, with little time to comply. Below is an overview of what employers must do, by when they must do it, and the penalty for noncompliance.

On May 18, 2021,
Continue Reading Popping the Question: Santa Clara Employers Must Ask About Vaccinations