COVID-19 Update December 14, 2020

The biggest news is that COVID-19 vaccines will be arriving soon. The CDC has released important information about the newly authorized vaccine, such as certain side effects to expect, and that two doses are required for proper protection from the Coronavirus. Several other vaccines are still currently being developed and tested; however, this FDA-approved one was given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to facilitate the availability. It’s expected that the vaccine will be available to the general public by early Spring 2021. Check your state’s distribution plan to find out if you qualify to get it sooner.

Employers will have a strong case for requiring employee vaccinations, so long as vaccination policies have certain exceptions, are job-related, and are consistent with business necessity, legal experts say. Businesses should also begin to consider how the Biden administration’s platform might affect health care and employee benefits. Lots of new changes coming with the new President-elect, but for what we are seeing in potential appointees, close similarities to the Obama Administration and the reversal of President Trump’s executive orders are to be expected.

A controversial overtime pay rule from the former President Barack Obama’s administration would have doubled the salary threshold for employees to be classified as exempt from overtime pay under federal law. In 2016, before the rule was implemented, a judge held that the administration exceeded its authority by raising the rate too high, but employers may be wondering if President-elect Joe Biden will revisit the rule.

Lastly, here is an interesting article from SHRM on how e-signatures have streamlined documentation processes, especially for human resources. This post-pandemic new world will likely include a largely remote workforce amid other operational updates and adjustments. We wish all of you the best of luck in navigating these new waters and ask that you utilize the resources that Delta Administrative Services is able to provide for continued success.