The number of states who have cancelled or plan to cancel the federal unemployment benefits by June is up to 24. Good news for employers who have reaped the unintended consequences of workers preferring the couch and government largess to a job.
OSHA has matched the CDC’s recommendation to allow fully vaccinated workers to forego a mask at work. However, employers must still remain consistent with any remaining state and local mandates.
The key issue now revolves around vaccination rates. Data shows that black and hispanic employees have more concerns about missing work due to getting or recovering from the vaccine. Here are a few ideas to boost the rate of vaccinations in your workforce.
Some employers are requiring vaccinations, particularly in healthcare. Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia is an example. In unionized facilities it may not be quite so simple, and such a move may require negotiating with the union.
New York Governor Cuomo signed into law on May 5th the HERO Act establishing a list of covid-19 safety requirements. Once the New York State Department of Labor has developed an Airborne Infections Disease Prevention Standard and model plans per industry, employers will then be required to either adopt the appropriate plan or present one of their own that meets or exceeds the standards.
