The German government has announced that, in light of falling infection rates, the “SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance” will not be extended (press release dated May 24, 2022; see also our blog dated November 24, 2021).… Continue reading
As Singapore takes its next step towards living with COVID-19, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”), the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) (collectively, the “Tripartite Partners”) have issued a revised set of guidelines for employers on the COVID-19 measures to be implemented at the workplace applicable from 26 April … Continue reading
On April 1st, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued guidance for employers on living safely and reducing the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 to replace the previous ‘Working Safely Guidance’ after the relaxing of COVID-19 measures in the UK. The guidance outlines ways employers can aim to reduce the spread of respiratory … Continue reading
On 21 February 2022, the UK Government announced its plan to end remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England. These include, from 24 February, the removal of the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test; and the requirement to wear face-coverings in public spaces and on public transport; and, from 1 April, the withdrawal of free … Continue reading
In recent months, Canadian Governments and employers shifted towards the implementation of mandatory vaccination policies in their workplaces (see our previous publication here). As deadlines for compliance lapse, employees may be subject to discipline up to and including termination. Generally, in the event of an employee’s termination of employment, the employee is entitled to notice … Continue reading
Legal innovations Amended regulations apply to this year’s works council elections taking place from March 1 to May 31, 2022. Pursuant to Section 24 (2) of the Election Regulations of October 8, 2021 (BGBl. I 4640/2021), HR departments are required to provide, in addition to the typical employee data used to draw up the electoral … Continue reading
As part of Singapore’s move towards living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease, the country has been making efforts to re-open its economy. In order to facilitate the safe re-opening of the economy, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) and the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (“TAFEP”) have collectively issued guidance for employers … Continue reading
On 17 December 2021, The Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Regulations 2021 came into force. The regulations temporarily extend the period that employees can self-certify to 28 days. Generally employees who are absent from work due to a period of sickness absence can self-certify for the absence for any period of up to seven days. … Continue reading
New York City (“NYC” or the “City”) recently announced that it would be the first U.S. city to require COVID-19 vaccination for its private sector employees. On December 13, 2021, the NYC Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc, issued an Order setting forth the requirements of the mandate. Two days … Continue reading
The use of the coronavirus entry pass in the workplace Pursuant to a temporary law the Dutch government wants to enable the use of the coronavirus entry pass (coronatoegangsbewijs, or ctb) at the workplace in certain sectors. The bill will be debated by the House of Representatives on January 5, 2022. The first version of … Continue reading
Il y a bon nombre de sujets chauds et importants dont devraient tenir compte les employeurs assujettis à la réglementation fédérale du secteur privé. Parmi ceux-ci, notons l’augmentation du salaire minimum, les changements devant être apportés au congé lié à la COVID-19 et les nouvelles analyses concernant les travailleurs à la demande et la façon … Continue reading
On the radar for federally regulated employers in the private sector are a number of hot and important topics. These include an increase to the minimum wage, in-the-works changes to the COVID-19-related leave, and new discussions about gig workers and how they fit – or may be able fit – in the framework of the … Continue reading
In Germany the “Epidemic Situation of National Significance” ends on November 25, 2021. As a result, the German legislature has amended several COVID-19 related laws, such as the German Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz – IfSG), in order to continue certain protective measures. The amended regulations (BT-Drs. 20/15 and BT-Drs. 20/78) aim to provide for a … Continue reading
Quand ils ont été tenus le faire, de nombreux employeurs sous réglementation fédérale des secteurs du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire ont dû être en mesure de confirmer la mise en oeuvre de leur politique de vaccination obligatoire à Transports Canada avant le 15 novembre 2021. Cette mise en oeuvre s’inscrit dans le cadre de … Continue reading
Where required to do so, many federally regulated employers in the marine, aviation and rail sectors were required to confirm the implementation of their mandatory vaccination policies to Transport Canada by November 15, 2021. This implementation is part of Transport Canada’s federal vaccine mandate for key federally regulated transportation sectors, save road transportation. Going forward, … Continue reading
In Blake v. University Health Network[1], the Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently discontinued an interim injunction[2] that had been granted to provisionally preserve the employment status of a group of unionized and non-unionized employees who were subject to the potential termination of their employment for failing to comply with the employer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination … Continue reading
L’accessibilité à la dose de rappel s’accroît – non seulement au Canada, mais à l’échelle mondiale également. Au Royaume-Uni, des doses de rappel (ou troisièmes doses) sont offertes depuis peu à la population générale de 50 ans et plus. En France et aux États-Unis, l’âge minimal généralement requis est plutôt fixé à 65 ans. Au Canada, le … Continue reading
Booster shot accessibility is on the rise – not just in Canada but globally, too. Recently, in the United Kingdom, booster shots (or third doses) have become available to the general public for those 50 years of age or older. In France and the United States, the general age requirement rises to 65 years of … Continue reading
On September 21 2021, Law Decree no. 127/2021 (Decree 127), providing “urgent measures to ensure the safe performance of public and private work,” was published in Italy’s Official Gazette. Decree 127 extends the scope of the mandatory Covid-19 Green Certification or “Green Pass” and strengthens the screening system. The Green Pass is a personal QR … Continue reading
On July 1, 2021, British Columbia enthusiastically took the next step in its four-step COVID-19 Restart Plan. The transition to Step 3 brought several changes, including the transition for employers to move away from the previously required COVID-19 Safety Plan to the now required Communicable Disease Plan (“CDP”). WorkSafeBC has published detailed guidance for employers … Continue reading
The UK Government announced that it would be lifting many of the restrictions that applied from 19 July and entering into what it terms Step 4 of its roadmap. Part of Step 4 is that the government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can and so employers can start to … Continue reading
New York State employers should be aware of a recent law aimed at protecting workers from COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases, the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act), which imposes significant obligations on covered employers. Among other things, the HERO Act requires the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to … Continue reading
On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a mandatory workplace safety rule requiring employers to take specified steps to protect workers from COVID-19. However, the rule applies only to health care settings. Referred to as an emergency temporary standard (ETS), the rule exempts fully vaccinated workers from masking, distancing, and … Continue reading
“Long Covid” (or “post-Covid-19 syndrome”) is a condition where people who have contracted Covid-19 continue to experience symptoms for weeks or even months after their initial infection. It affects individuals differently, and symptoms can range from fatigue, headaches, loss of taste or smell, lasting fever or anxiety, to respiratory difficulties, muscle weakness, blood clots and … Continue reading