The adoption of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) makes New York the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults age 21 and older. This new law expands employment protections for those engaging in lawful off-duty use of cannabis — and since it’s effective immediately, New York employers should review and update their drug and alcohol testing policies quickly.
Continue reading “Employers Beware: New York Protects Off-Duty Use of Recreational Cannabis”
The year 2021 continues the trend of increasing regulation of the workplace by state and local governments. Several new and revised state and local workplace regulations are effective, including several developments relating to discrimination. This update reviews these new requirements and recaps Q1 state and local employment law developments to help you and your organization stay in compliance.
For the full alert, visit the Faegre Drinker website.
On March 23, 2021, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0656 into law, amending the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), the Business Corporation Act of 1983 and the Equal Pay Act of 2003 in ways that will significantly affect employers. Here’s an overview of what’s coming.
On March 12, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed into law, providing an estimated $1.9 trillion stimulus package to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the ARP’s key provisions include a number of employment-related sections that build upon prior legislation to create a scaffold of employer obligations and worker entitlements arising from the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy.
Continue reading “Navigating the American Rescue Plan’s Employment-Related Provisions”
On March 19, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 95, which extends and expands employer requirements to provide supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) to employees impacted by COVID-19. SB 95 goes into effect on March 29, 2021, (i.e., 10 days after being signed by Gov. Newsom) and adds sections 248.2 and 248.3 to the California Labor Code.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has updated its COVID-19 FAQs and has issued its long-awaited guidance regarding employers mandating COVID-19 vaccines.
As a preliminary matter, the DFEH explained that it is not providing guidance on whether or to what extent an employer should mandate vaccination within its workforce. Rather, the DFEH stated that its guidance/FAQs are to address how employers comply with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) if employers require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with an FDA-approved vaccine.
Continue reading “Can California Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine?”