News Brief header The White House recently announced that drugmaker Merck & Co., will help produce competitor Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to expand its production and supply.

President Joe Biden’s administration will play a key role in this partnership. The administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to get two Merck facilities up to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While it will take months to fully equip these plants, Merck has extensive experience and capacity as a vaccine producer and is prepared to use these two facilities to vastly increase supply.  

News Brief header The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed in the United States for use by individuals 18 years of age and older.

This authorization follows a recommendation from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to issue a EUA for the vaccine, and confirms that Americans will have access to a third effective coronavirus vaccine that will allow states to increase distribution.

News Brief header The Biden administration recently announced a 14-day period of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Payment Protection Program (PPP) when only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief.

This period will begin Wednesday, Feb. 24, and conclude on Wednesday, March 10. Biden also announced four other changes to expand the benefits of the PPP program to underserved small businesses, including:

Attraction and Retention Challenges amid COVID-19 header Attracting and retaining talent is often a top priority for HR departments.

Given the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the job market, one might imagine this task is easier than ever. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. While there may be more candidates than usual, attracting quality talent and retaining top performers still remains a struggle, worsened by COVID-19 and its effects on the workplace. This article shares some tips for attracting and retaining workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

News Brief header The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released an analysis that found that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.

According to the FDA, the vaccine meets requirements for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The vaccine, developed by Janssen Biotech Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has been found to have 72% efficacy in the United States, while proving less effective in Latin America and South Africa, where a highly contagious variant is behind most new cases. The vaccine has also demonstrated 86% efficacy against severe forms of COVID-19 in the United States, with 82% against severe outcomes in South Africa.

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.