On Jan. 27, 2022, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee signed into law two bills, House Bill 1732 and House Bill 1733, which became effective at signing. These new bills will delay and make significant changes to the WA Cares Fund.

The District of Columbia has enacted legislation that will extend a requirement that employers provide paid leave to employees for the time they, or their minor child, spend obtaining and recovering from COVID-19 vaccination. The legislation also extends an expansion of the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA). These changes were set to expire on Feb. 3, 2022.

Interviews are an essential part of hiring process, helping you gather job-related information that you typically can't find through resumes and applications alone. To be effective, interviewers should prepare and ask the right questions. Here are ten key interview questions to consider:

The United States Supreme Court has issued a decision that blocks a federal OSHA emergency temporary standard (ETS) that would require employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that employees either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or produce a weekly negative test. Separately, the court upheld a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Interim Final Rule (CMS Rule), requiring vaccinations among certain healthcare workers. 

Click here for more details on the decisions.

OSHA’s Recordkeeping Standard, 29 CFR 1904, requires that certain employers maintain annual records of workplace injuries and illnesses. The records are maintained throughout the calendar year on the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (300 Log) and are summarized on the OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (300A Summary) at the end of each calendar year. The 300A Summary is required to be posted in the workplace every Feb. 1 through April 30 to show records from the previous year’s injuries and illnesses even if no work-related injuries or illnesses occurred during the previous year.

On Monday, Jan.  10, 2022, the Biden Administration announced a requirement to expand access to free at-home COVID tests.

Tennessee issued an emergency rule that set forth quarantine procedures related to COVID-19. The rule is effective from Dec.  22, 2021 to June 20, 2022.

Update Jan. 6, 2022: Tennessee has released new guidance that lowers the period of isolation to five days in certain circumstances, while continuing to require masking. 

Rhode Island has enacted emergency rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The rules are in effect from Dec. 29, 2021 to April 21, 2022.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has amended its rule (OAR 437-001-0744), which covers requirements for masks, physical distancing, and cleaning to combat COVID-19. The amended rule went into effect Dec. 21, 2021.

The New York Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule to clarify sick leave requirements. The final rule took effect Dec. 22, 2021.