News

As another year comes to a close, we recommend finding time to reflect on 2021 and make the necessary adjustments and plans for improvement accordingly. Unfortunately, COVID-19 persists as a threat with the Omicron variant. Please remain vigilant and get vaccinated/boosted. Today, the FDA authorized the first COVID-19 antiviral treatment pill, Pfizer's Paxlovid drug. The oral drug, called Paxlovid will be prescribed for use in adults and children ages 12 and up with mild to moderate symptoms who are at…

Yesterday, the United States' first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant was identified in California. The individual had traveled to South Africa, has not yet received the booster, and has placed themselves in self-quarantine. The Biden Administration recently put in place a vaccine mandate for all federal employees and contractors along with private employers with more than 100 employees. Biden plans to discuss the U.S. strategy for fighting COVID-19 this winter today (Thursday) and the public transit mask extension…

The biggest recent news out of Washington is that the latest bill was reduced from $3 trillion down to $1.75 trillion. Now the issue becomes figuring out what gets passed in the now smaller bill. President Biden has announced the Build Back Better Framework, aimed at helping working families in the middle class. This Act will touch on many areas, in order to create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, spur…

The Biden administration plans to rescind the COVID-19 international travel bans imposed in 2020 and replace them with vaccination and testing requirements to enter the U.S., beginning in November. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of the Treasury jointly issued FAQs relating to COVID-19 vaccine incentives and surcharges. Under the guidance, employers may provide incentives such as premium discounts or surcharges through group health plans to incentivize COVID-19…

The Senate appears on track to prevent a government shutdown on Thursday at midnight, as Democrats and Republicans wade through last-minute impediments to a stopgap funding bill’s speedy passage. Nancy Pelosi is using her power to get these pushed through; however, there are several ramifications on if and when these get passed and in what format. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (“Bill”), passed by the Senate, proposes to end the ERC program as of September 30, 2021. Since it doesn’t seem…

Yesterday, the Biden administration unveiled a new plan to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States. A critical component of that plan calls on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop and implement a new emergency temporary standard (ETS) to require employers with more than 100 employees to mandate that their employees are either fully vaccinated or subject to COVID-19 testing at least once per week. They will also require all workers in healthcare settings…

While the Delta variant is still affecting many parts of the country, the big news today is that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received full FDA approval.  As the first vaccine in the US to be approved by the FDA, it might make it easier for employers to mandate the shot. Here at Delta, we are pro-vaccination, and most of our office has been vaccinated. We still believe you should check with your trusted physician; however, the proof is out there…

As the COVID-19 delta variant spreads, many employers are asking what they can do if workers refuse to get vaccinated. Some employers are firing workers who won't take the vaccine and others are requiring unvaccinated employees to submit to weekly testing and take other safety precautions. It is legal to require workers to show proof of their vaccination status or wear N-95 masks and submit to regular COVID-19 testing, but employers must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),…