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On Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, President Joe Biden signed executive orders requiring federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Biden also directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to draft a new emergency rule requiring all businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure all of their workers are either tested for…

The COVID-19 pandemic put many people out of work in early 2020, particularly in the restaurant industry. Businesses were forced to shutter overnight, giving workers little time to adapt to their circumstances. Layoffs were so rampant that the federal government needed to step in and offer more generous unemployment benefits (an extra $300 per week…

As the highly contagious and transmissible Delta variant spreads across the United States and the numbers of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise, many organizations are taking action to protect employees. In some cases, they are mandating that employees get vaccinated before returning to the workplace or encouraging them to do so. For some employers, these…

As millions of Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19 and businesses resume normal operations, people are likely making plans to travel this summer. Of those planning to travel, 74% will take a domestic trip and 13% will travel internationally. Also, millennials report being the most excited to plan trips and get back out there this summer.…

Critical infrastructure cyberattacks are increasing in frequency according to Advisen’s loss database, and some experts are worried the worst is yet to come. There are sixteen industry sectors in the United States that make up the country’s critical infrastructure. These sectors are considered so vital their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on…

On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. It is the first full approval of any coronavirus vaccine in the United States. The other vaccines, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are still available under emergency use authorization (EUA) granted by the FDA. The Moderna…

On July 29, 2021, President Biden announced new actions to strengthen safety protocols for federal employees and federal contractors. This announcement was not an executive order, but does impose new requirements for federal employees and contractors. Every federal government employee and on-site contractor is now required to disclose their vaccination status. Federal employees and contractors…

The pandemic presented many learning opportunities for organizations as they pivoted and learned how to be resilient during uncertain times. The 2020 open enrollment season was one such opportunity, and many employers rose to the challenge by exploring new ways to engage and educate their employees about their benefits. With open enrollment approaching and hybrid/remote…

When an on-the-job injury or illness results in permanent work restrictions, you are required to provide the injured worker a position that fits medically determined specifications. If you are unable to accommodate the permanent work restrictions, vocational rehabilitation benefits are available to the injured employee. These benefits may include job placement services, retraining or a…

It's been more than a year since the pandemic began, and we continue to learn more about the short- and long-term health effects of COVID-19. Although most people get better within weeks, some people experience long COVID-19—a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks or months. In fact, a new study found that nearly…