Cal/OSHA Issues Coronavirus Guidance for Employers

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has released Interim Guidance for Protecting Health Care Workers from Exposure to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This guidance pertains to “health care facilities, laboratories, public health services, police services and other locations where employees are reasonably anticipated to be exposed to confirmed or suspected cases of aerosol transmissible diseases.” Employers that have operations in any of these areas may want to consult the Cal/OSHA website for more information about how to comply with the agency’s regulations.

Ogletree Deakins’ coronavirus team has covered various aspects of the 2019-nCoV outbreak and provided an overview of recent developments, tips from a workplace safety perspective, and information affecting international employers. The team will continue to monitor the evolving situation and report on the issues.

COBRA Subsidy Extended and Modified

Newly-enacted legislation extends and expands the 65 percent federal COBRA subsidy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in cases of involuntary termination of employment. A stopgap measure signed into law on March 2 by President Barack Obama extends the end of the eligibility period from February 28 to March 31, 2010, and makes

NLRB Opens Door to Additional Remedies for Repeated Labor Violations

On April 20, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) imposed a host of expanded remedies against an employer that allegedly committed a number of repeated labor law violations in the context of collective bargaining. The decision signals the Board’s willingness to impose harsh remedies against employers more frequently, in the full spectrum of unfair labor practice litigation. Employers everywhere now face the prospect of defending against requests for harsh remedies when litigating a wide range of unfair labor practice charges.

H-1B and H-2B Cap Updates: Still Availability

Demand for H-1B visa petitions increased slightly, but continued to be relatively light as compared to recent years. As of July 16, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that it has received approximately 25,300 H-1B petitions counting toward the annual 65,000 “cap.” This means approximately 3,100 petitions have been filed over the past five

Recommended Reading

COBRA Subsidy Extended and Modified

NLRB Opens Door to Additional Remedies for Repeated Labor Violations

H-1B and H-2B Cap Updates: Still Availability