Some important happenings this week with regards to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates for employers with 100 or more employees. Following up on its original order granting an emergency stay against the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), the Circuit Court of Appeals for the 5th District, headquartered in New Orleans, went one better this week and…
Read More »As you’re no doubt aware, the above legal challenge to the OSHA Vaccine ETS in the 5th Circuit Court was just one of many lawsuits filed against the mandate. In fact, as many as 26 states along with many private business interests filed litigation challenging the dictate by the Biden administration. As a matter of…
Read More »Notwithstanding the difficulties the Biden Department of Labor is currently having with the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) relating employers with 100 or more employees as outlined above, those businesses operating as federal contractors are still subject to the vaccine Executive Order signed back on September 9 by President Biden and known as the “Federal Contractor…
Read More »A class action lawsuit has been filed against the state of Washington over its new mandatory long-term care program, set to become fully effective in January, 2025. The WA Cares Fund, as it is known, mandates an employee payroll tax of .58% of total pay per payroll beginning on January 1, but employees could only…
Read More »Washington DC is lifting its indoor face mask mandate for the first time since it was reimposed back in July. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is running for a third term, will lift the mandate effective next Monday, November 22. Masks will still be required in a number of settings – transit, schools, libraries, nursing homes,…
Read More »It has long been debated what effect mandatory minimum wages have on the labor force at large, the creation of new jobs and the benefits afforded minimum wage employees. Well, the ongoing labor shortage notwithstanding, there were a couple of new reports released recently that shed additional light on those questions. First, the Federal Reserve…
Read More »While the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard is on hold in the courts for the time being, the delay provides covered employers with a great opportunity to prepare for the mandate becoming effective in January. But should you plan on it now or take a wait and see approach? Are there steps should be taking now…
Read More »The International Franchise Association (IFA), which has gone through some staff changes since former President and CEO Robert Cresanti announced his departure last year, recently announced that it had appointed Michael Layman as the new senior vice president for government affairs. New President and CEO Matt Haller, who formerly held the position until he was…
Read More »Starbucks announced this week that it had opened a co-branded store with Amazon Go without any checkout process. The New York City location features Starbucks’ full menu, a variety of food and beverages in the Amazon Go market, and a lounge with workspaces, expanded tables, power outlets, and USB ports. We also noted recently that Panera…
Read More »In recognition of the Thanksgiving Holiday, Small Regular No Sugar! will not publish next week. Like many, we’ll be recovering from too much turkey and fixings with family and friends. We wish you all safe travels and a very Happy Thanksgiving! We will next publish in two weeks, on December 3.
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