Friday 29 January 2021

Virginia Governor Approves COVID-19 Permanent Standard

COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update

Virginia Governor Approves COVID-19 Permanent Standard

Effective January 26, 2021, Virginia became the first state to adopt a Permanent Standard addressing COVID-19 workplace safety. As previously reported, the Permanent Standard supersedes the Emergency Temporary Standard adopted in August 2020.

The Permanent Standard largely tracks the Emergency Temporary Standard with a few clarifications on outbreaks, sick leave policies, enforcement, case reporting, test and time-based return-to-work requirements, and respirator standards.

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To learn more about Clear Law Institute’s online training on COVID-19 safe workplace practices, please contact us.

The post Virginia Governor Approves COVID-19 Permanent Standard appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/virginia-adopts-covid-permanent-standard/

Monday 25 January 2021

President Biden Issues Executive Order Protecting Worker Health & Safety

COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update

President Biden Issues Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety

On January 21, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety. The Order directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to take the following steps to strengthen worker protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic within two (2) weeks of the date of the Order – February 4, 2021.
Consider whether COVID-19 emergency temporary standards, including masks in the workplace, are necessary, and if they are necessary, issue them by March 15, 2021.
Review OSHA COVID-19 enforcement efforts and identify any changes that can be made to protect workers better and ensure equity in enforcement.
Launch a national program to focus OSHA COVID-19 enforcement efforts on violations that put the largest number of workers at serious risk or are contrary to anti-retaliation principles.

Coordinate with the Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs and Office of Public Engagement and all regional OSHA offices to conduct a multilingual outreach campaign to inform workers of their rights under applicable law. The campaign must include engagement with labor unions, community organizations, and industries and place a special emphasis on communities hit hardest by the pandemic.

We will continue to monitor and provide necessary updates.

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To learn more about Clear Law Institute’s online training on COVID-19 safe workplace practices, please contact us.

The post President Biden Issues Executive Order Protecting Worker Health & Safety appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/president-biden-issues-executive-order-protecting-worker-health-and-safety/

Friday 22 January 2021

President Biden Signs Executive Order Requiring Masks for Interstate Travel

SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION UPDATE

President Biden Signs Executive Order Requiring Masks during Interstate Travel

On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order directing certain federal agencies to take action to require face masks to be worn, in compliance with CDC guidelines, in or on:

airports
commercial aircrafts
trains
public maritime vessels, including ferries
intercity bus services
all forms of public transportation

It is not yet clear how federal agencies will carry out this Executive Order.

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To learn more about Clear Law Institute’s online training on COVID-19 safe workplace practices, please contact us.

The post President Biden Signs Executive Order Requiring Masks for Interstate Travel appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/president-biden-signs-eo-require-masks-interstate-travel/

Thursday 21 January 2021

President Biden Signs Executive Order to prevent Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation-based Discrimination

SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION UPDATE

President Biden Issues Executive Order to Combat Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Discrimination

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, setting forth the Administration’s policy “to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation” and to “address overlapping forms of discrimination.”

The Executive Order calls on all federal agencies to review all existing orders, regulations, policies, and related actions based on Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination or any other law prohibiting sex discrimination.

Pursuant to the Order, all federal agencies must

determine if any such actions are inconsistent with Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. ___ (2020), and the Administrations stated policy that discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is unlawful sex discrimination;
determine whether (a) existing actions need to be rescinded or revised and (b) any new measures are needed to align its orders, regulations, and other actions with the Administration’s policy; and
develop, within 100 days of the Executive Order and in consultation with the Attorney General, a plan to implement the actions it has identified as necessary to effectuate the Administration’s policy

Learn More

To learn more about Clear Law Institute’s online sexual harassment prevention training, please contact us.

The post President Biden Signs Executive Order to prevent Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation-based Discrimination appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/president-biden-signs-eo-to-combat-gender-identity-and-sexual-orientation-discrimination/

Biden Signs Executive Order Reversing Trump Order Banning Certain Types of Unconscious Bias Training

Unconscious Bias Training Update

President Biden Signs Executive Order Revoking Trump Administration Ban on Unconscious Bias Training

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order revoking former President Trump’s Executive Order 13950 (Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping).

As previously reported, former President Trump issued Executive Order 13950 in September 2020. The Order banned federal contractors and grantees from providing diversity or unconscious bias training that included certain concepts.

Executive Order 13950 is now revoked and no longer in effect.

Clear Law Institute’s Unconscious Bias Training

Clear Law Institute provides online and instructor-led unconscious bias, diversity, and inclusion training for employers around the country.

Clear Law’s online Unconscious Bias Training is self-paced, fully narrated, and includes numerous interactive animations, video demonstrations, and exercises to keep employees engaged.

We provide online training to more than 1,000 employers, handle training roll-out to employees, support tech issues, and track course completions.

Click here to learn more and receive a FREE TRIAL of Clear Law Institute’s Unconcious Bias Training: Promoting a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace.

The post Biden Signs Executive Order Reversing Trump Order Banning Certain Types of Unconscious Bias Training appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/biden-executive-order-reversing-trump-order-unconscious-bias-training/

Tuesday 19 January 2021

New Hampshire COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update

COVID-19 SAFE WORKPLACE TRAINING

Update

January 19, 2021

Clear Law Institute provides compliant and current Covid-19 Safe Workplace training. Our training complies with CDC and OSHA guidelines and the growing number of states mandating COVID-19 workplace safety training. Our Compliance Advisory Team regularly monitors federal and state authorities and updates the training, as needed.

New Hampshire updated its COVID-19 Universal Business Guidelines on January 9, 2021.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services issued updated Quarantine Guidance and Employer Travel, Screening, and Exclusion Guidance on January 11, 2021.

The post New Hampshire COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/new-hampshire-covid-19-safe-workplace-training-update-4/

North Dakota COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update

COVID-19 SAFE WORKPLACE TRAINING

Update

January 19, 2021

On January 18, 2021, North Dakota Governor Burgum allowed the state’s face covering mandate to expire. The Governor now strongly encourages residents to wear face coverings in public.

The post North Dakota COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Update appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/north-dakota-covid-19-safe-workplace-training-update-4/

Virginia Adopts Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Protections

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COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training

Virginia Adopts Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Protections

On January 13, 2020, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted a Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Protections. The Permanent Standard supersedes the Emergency Temporary Standard that was adopted in August 2020.

The Permanent Standard heads to Governor Ralph Northam for review. If Governor Northam does not suggest revisions, the Permanent Standard takes effect upon publication in a Richmond newspaper. If Governor Northam does suggest revisions, the Safety and Health Codes Board will consider them, make any necessary revisions, and the Permanent Standard will take effect upon publication.

The Permanent Standard largely tracks the Emergency Temporary Standard with a few changes and clarifications, including outbreaks, sick leave policies, enforcement, case reporting, test and time-based return-to-work requirements, and respirator standards.

The Emergency Temporary Standard is set to expire on January 26, 2021. A business organization and several employers have challenged the Emergency Temporary Standard in a lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, Virginia.

Why Clear Law Institute?

Clear Law Institute’s online COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training complies with all state training mandates, CDC and OSHA guidelines, as well as industry best practices.

The online training is self-paced, fully narrated, and includes numerous interactive animations, video demonstrations, and exercises to keep employees engaged.

Clear Law Institute provides online training to over 1,000 employers, handles training roll-out to employees, supports tech issues, and tracks course completions.

The post Virginia Adopts Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Protections appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/virginia-adopts-permanent-standard-covid-workplace/

Friday 15 January 2021

Cal/OSHA Considers Good Faith Efforts for Compliance with Emergency Temporary Standard

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COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training

Cal/OSHA Considers Good Faith Efforts for Compliance with Emergency Temporary Standard

Cal/OSHA recently adopted Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), which among other things, requires COVID-19 workplace safety training. On November 19, 2020, Cal/OSHA adopted the ETS, and on November 20, 2020, the ETS became On short notice, employers were expected to implement and comply with the new and extensive workplace safety standards.

Cal/OSHA recently published FAQs to clarify several important issues in the ETS, including application, partitions, ventilation, vaccines, COVID-19 testing, and cohorting.

Importantly, Cal/OSHA stated that it will not assess monetary penalties until February 1, 2020, for non-compliance with the ETS, provided:

the employer shows good-faith efforts of compliance;
the violation does not involve a violation of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), respiratory program, or another applicable program in place before November 30, 2020;
the employer abates the violation; and
the citation does not involve an imminent hazard.

Why Clear Law Institute?

Clear Law Institute’s online COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training complies with all state training mandates, CDC and OSHA guidelines, as well as industry best practices.

The online training is self-paced, fully narrated, and includes numerous interactive animations, video demonstrations, and exercises to keep employees engaged.

Clear Law Institute provides online training to over 1,000 employers, handles training roll-out to employees, supports tech issues, and tracks course completions.

The post Cal/OSHA Considers Good Faith Efforts for Compliance with Emergency Temporary Standard appeared first on Clear Law Institute.

Read full post at: https://clearlawinstitute.com/blog/cal-osha-consider-good-faith-effort-complianct-emergency-temporary-standard/