You can’t control the weather—but you can take safety measures to protect your family and home against the threat and hazards of power outages.

If severe weather or intense winter chill hits unexpectedly, power outages can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. However, if you’re already in the dark, there are still steps you can take to keep everyone safe until your power is restored.      

HR Compliance Bulletin header image The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on the elements of consent and disclosures necessary to support employee decision-making when employers incorporate workplace COVID-19 testing.

Differences in position and authority (such as workplace hierarchies), as well as employment status in nonstandard working arrangements (e.g., temporary help, contract help or part-time employment) can affect an employee’s ability to make free decisions. This guidance suggests measures employers can take when developing a testing program.    

Legal Update Header On Feb. 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed rule to update its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align it with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

OSHA is accepting comments on the proposal until 60 days after its publication, which is expected on Feb. 16, 2021.    

News Brief header The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued an order requiring masks for domestic travel, consistent with an executive order recently signed by President Joe Biden promoting COVID-19 safety in domestic and international travel.

According to the order, individuals must wear masks over the mouth and nose when traveling on aircraft, trains, road vehicles and other means of transport into and within the United States, as well as when at a transportation hub.    

News Brief header In a recent White House briefing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recommended that Americans continue to avoid travel.

Specifically, Walensky said that air travel is a high-risk activity for COVID-19 spread as “there’s more gathering that happens in airports.” Walensky’s statement is consistent with the CDC’s online travel guidance, which states that cases “are extremely high” and urges Americans, “Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.”  

Legal Update Header On Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) proposed delaying the effective date for the Independent Contractor final rule from Mar. 8, 2021 to May 7, 2021.

The WHD is proposing the delay to allow sufficient time for the agency to review the final rule as required by the memorandum President Biden issued on Jan. 20, freezing regulatory changes adopted late into the previous administration.      

HR Insights Blog Header Employee communications related to the pandemic have played a major role in keeping employees safe and healthy while navigating operational changes and challenges.

Now, the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines have become available after the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for two vaccines. As initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines are allocated for people in certain groups, employers can and should begin planning for when the general public has access.    

HR Insights Blog Header The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for HR departments in 2020.

Suddenly, employees were looking to HR teams for guidance in areas not typically considered their responsibility. This was a turning point for many workplaces—now, HR is expected to understand public health challenges swiftly and manage them efficiently. This article outlines four ways HR teams can prepare for future public health crises. Employers should use this information to help cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic fallout and beyond.      

HR Insights Blog Header Making COVID-19 vaccination part of your workplace wellness program may offer benefits to you and your employees.

To aid in keeping their workplace healthy, employers can consider offering free, onsite COVID-19 vaccinations at work locations. This HR Insights article provides an overview of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for workplace vaccination programs. As of this writing, vaccine programs are not yet available to many employers, depending on the type of organization and guidance from local officials.