Category: Workplace Safety & Health

April 12, 2024

Health care entities maintain compliance programs in order to comply with the myriad, changing laws and regulations that apply to the health care industry. Although laws and regulations specific to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are limited at this […]

April 11, 2024

On March 28, 2024, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the “Tri-Agencies”) issued final regulations on short-term, limited-duration insurance (“STLDI”), hospital and other fixed indemnity insurance (“Fixed Indemnity”), and the taxation of accident and health plan […]

March 29, 2024

In most situations, medical treatment for workplace injuries is fairly straightforward. Workers’ compensation statutes require coverage for procedures necessary to treat and correct injuries or illnesses that occurred at the workplace. What happens, however, when the connection between the injury […]

March 1, 2024

As employment-related artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools proliferate, multinational employers feel increasing pressure to deploy AI across their global offices. These tools can provide great value and efficiency across the employment life cycle. For example, recruiters request AI screening services that […]

February 26, 2024

The Federal Labor Government (Government) has completed its third tranche of workplace relations reform with the recent passage through Federal Parliament of its Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023. Along with its ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ […]

February 8, 2024

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s latest push against vaccine mandates takes form in a new law now in force in the Lone Star State. Senate Bill 7 prohibits private employers from adopting or enforcing certain COVID-19 vaccine mandates. SB 7 directly […]

February 6, 2024

Democratic Assembly Member Matt Haney introduced Assembly Bill (AB) No. 1976, which, if enacted, would require the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to “adopt revised standards” under Section 3400 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations […]

January 11, 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1970, and, in addition to other things, the OSH Act called for the creation of an agency to develop regulations to effectuate its purpose and administer its […]

December 4, 2023

Employers must take notice that the United State Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is cracking down on companies that discriminate against workers because they have a mental health condition. Mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, […]

November 8, 2023

In late April this year, the Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) announced that it would make changes to its existing body of healthcare compliance program guidance (CPGs) as part of its current Modernization Initiative.[1] […]

October 18, 2023

Last month, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reaffirmed its longstanding position that an arrangement that “carves out” Federal health care program (FHCP) business is not dispositive with respect to whether […]

October 16, 2023

In September 2023, federal trial courts in Wisconsin and Kentucky issued decisions dismissing plaintiffs’ claims related to employers’ COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements. The decisions (1) interpreted “undue hardship” following the Supreme Court of the United States’ Groff v. DeJoy […]

September 12, 2023

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (“OSHA”) can conduct inspections for several reasons, including as a response to an employee complaint, after the report of a fatality or injury, and in accordance with an emphasis program. The reasonable scope of […]

August 28, 2023

On August 8, 2023, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued opinions in Mills v. Hartford HealthCare Corp.and Manginelli v. Regency House of Wallingford, Inc. that addressed the scope of immunity for health care workers and facilities under Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive […]

August 23, 2023

Background and Proposed Changes Currently, California has an Outdoor Heat Illness Regulation for all outdoor places of employment. That regulation has been in effect for more than a decade, and Cal/OSHA regularly and aggressively enforces it throughout California. The May […]

August 4, 2023

Recently, things may have sped up a little in your doctor’s office. The notes for your recent visit may have been organized and filed a little more quickly. You might have received assistance sooner than expected with a physician letter […]

July 27, 2023

There’s a growing momentum to establish federal standards to prevent heat illness in the workplace, as temperatures hit record levels in many parts of the U.S. and Europe. President Joe Biden outlined steps the federal government will take to protect […]

June 30, 2023

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued new guidance, Notice 2023-37, which states that for plan years ending after December 31, 2024, HSA-compatible high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) will no longer be permitted to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment before the […]

June 13, 2023

Introduction Following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade, the federal government, pursuant to President Biden’s Executive Order (the EO) took several steps to protect reproductive health privacy, some of which we […]

June 8, 2023

On May 16, 2023, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo (the “GC”) issued revisions to her original July 6, 2020 memorandum of suggested manual election protocols for use during the COVID-19 pandemic, found here. The Board’s policies have […]