On September 6, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York Commissioner of Health designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents serious risk of harm to the public health” under the New York State Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”). This designation will remain in effect until further notice is
COVID-19
Increasing COVID-19 Cases Accompanied by Increasing Employer Vaccination Policies: Can Employers Legally Require Employees to Disclose Vaccination Status and Get Vaccinated?
Posted in Employment Policies and Practices
As the Delta variant of COVID-19 rapidly spreads across the country and offices continue to reopen with the close of summer, questions around mandatory vaccination policies are on the rise. On the heels of federal and local public employers enacting workplace vaccination policies, many private employers are now deciding to enact mandatory vaccination policies or…
Vaccination Required: Emergency Executive Order 225 and New York City Indoor Entertainment, Recreation, Dining, and Fitness Establishments
Posted in Employment Policies and Practices
On August 16, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio executed Emergency Executive Order 225 (“EO 225”) effectuating the recently announced “Key to NYC” vaccination requirement for indoor entertainment, recreation, dining, and fitness establishments. On that same day, New York City issued a summary of the new law and Frequently Asked Questions concerning the requirements as well.…
New York Amends Hero Act And Lifts Most Remaining COVID Restrictions
Posted in Employment Policies and Practices
New York continues to move forward rapidly into a post-COVID world. First, on June 11, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to amend the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (“HERO Act”) to clarify certain obligations and deadlines for employers to comply with this new law. Second, on June 15, 2021, New York lifted…
EEOC Updates Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance for Employers
Posted in Employment Policies and Practices
On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued updated guidance regarding workplace COVID-19 vaccination policies and employee accommodations (the “Updated Guidance”). Among other issues, the Updated Guidance clarifies some significant questions that employers have been facing regarding mandatory vaccination policies, vaccine incentive programs, and reasonable accommodations available for both vaccinated and unvaccinated…