BW INSIGHTS

OSHA Issues New Standards for Healthcare Employers and Updated its Guidance for Non-Healthcare Employers Regarding COVID-19

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health and Administration (OSHA) issued new standards for healthcare employers and updated its guidance for non-healthcare employers regarding COVID-19. For non-healthcare employers, the updated guidance relies on and is consistent with the CDC’s recent recommendations that fully vaccinated people may... Read More

NLRB Acting General Counsel Calls for “Vigorous Enforcement” and Expansion of Employee Protections

On March 31, 2021, Peter Sung Ohr, the Acting General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), issued a memorandum calling for the “vigorous enforcement” of employee protections under the National Labor Relations Act. The memorandum forecasts a significant shift in strategy for the NLRB’s policing of employee relations in union and... Read More

Don’t Jump the Gun on COVID-19 Recovery: Employers and Business Owners Should Review OSHA Compliance

In February, a U.S. House sub-committee launched an investigation into how major meat processors and OSHA responded to COVID-19. During the prior administration, OSHA issued only eight COVID-related citations. With a new administration in charge, we anticipate renewed energy and enforcement from OSHA in the coming year. Employers should make a... Read More

Option for Avoiding Total Layoffs During COVID-19

This is not a new program but has new features to assist employers in trying to avoid layoffs. Iowa Workforce Development describes its “Voluntary Shared Work Program Unemployment Insurance Benefits” (VSW) below: “The program is intended for use as an alternative to layoffs and can be an effective tool for Iowa businesses experiencing a temporary... Read More

Employer Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Impact on Unemployment Benefits in Iowa

Do employees need to exhaust all vacation, sick leave, or personal time off (PTO) time prior to claiming unemployment benefits? Yes. If an employer offers vacation, sick leave, or PTO time to employees, the employees must exhaust those benefits prior to claiming unemployment benefits. Are employers required to lay off employees in order for the... Read More