U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the automatic extension period for certain employment authorizations and employment authorization documents (EADs) has been temporarily increased from 180 days to 540 days. The extension period is provided to certain renewal applicants to help prevent gaps in employment authorization due to delays in processing.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that employers will be allowed to inspect Form I-9 documents remotely in certain situations related to COVID-19 until October 31, 2022. Prior to the announcement, this temporary policy was set to expire on April 30, 2022.
On April 6, 2022, President Biden announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayment through August 31, 2022.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that a temporary policy regarding expired documents used for Form I-9 purposes will end on April 30, 2022. The I-9 is used to verify a new hire's identity and work authorization.
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.
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On Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, the Biden Administration announced a requirement to expand access to free at-home COVID tests.
The proposed regulation, if finalized, would generally be effective beginning in 2022, but the IRS stated that entities may rely on the regulations now for the 2021 reporting submissions.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule establishing limits on the amount of time tipped employees can spend performing work that isn’t “tip-producing work” and still be paid at the reduced cash wage for tipped employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule becomes effective on December 28, 2021.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it won’t enforce an emergency rule regarding vaccination of healthcare workers while there are injunctions in place that block the implementation of it.
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New York City has enacted an Order that establishes worker COVID-19 vaccination requirements, creates recordkeeping obligations, and includes a posting requirement. The Order took effect on December 27, 2021.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring the use of face masks indoors for the next four weeks, regardless of the individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status.
Tucson, Arizona voters have approved a ballot measure (Proposition 206) that will increase the city’s minimum wage. Employers must pay employees at least the city's minimum wage rate for work done within Tucson.
North Dakota has enacted legislation (HB 1511) that requires private employers to allow certain employee exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine. The law is effective from Nov.15, 2021 to Aug.1, 2023, unless extended.
The minimum wage in California and in many local jurisdictions in the state will increase on January 1, 2022.