As individuals return to the workplace this summer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an emergency temporary standard to protect healthcare workers and new guidance for other industries in relation to COVID-19. Access the links below for more information.

It’s been a busy June on the regulatory front. Below are several updates received in the last few days:

• Temporary Emergency Standard
• Read the new general industry COVID-19 guidance
• Read OSHA’s ETS blog post

A recent news release from the Department of Labor, highlights the President’s budget which includes:

• An expansion of registered apprenticeship opportunities through the American Jobs Plan which will create 1-2 million apprenticeship slots
• An increase of $203 million to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make employment services and training available to individuals negatively impacted by the economic effects of COVID-19
• A request of $100 million for development and deployment of IT solutions to states to ensure effective processing of unemployment claims and an update to the formula that funds the states’ unemployment insurance
• An increase in funding for OSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Employee Benefits Security Administration as well as increased funding for other organizations designated as worker protection agencies. The increase will be in the millions and will be in addition to the American Jobs Plan which will provide additional funding over 10 years.
• An increase in funding of more than $30 million for the Wage and Hour division to address worker misclassification and to enforce prevailing wages, family and medical leave and other areas. You will want to ensure your compliance here. Please reach out if you have questions.

Read the President’s FY 2022 Budget.

In addition, the Department of Labor also noted “worker-centered protections” in the Spring 2021 Regulatory Agenda. Below is a summary:

• Increasing the Federal Contractor minimum wage to $15 per hour in response to Executive Order 14026
• Rulemaking to address “economic security” of tipped workers
• Addressing prevailing wages on federal construction contracts
• Reviewing regulations under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by the Employee Benefits Security Administration

Watch for prior rulemakings under the previous administration to be pulled.

The full agenda can be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.

SWHRC can help keep and maintain compliance on all HR regulations. Our professionals have over 120 years of experience you can trust!

Summarized by | Magdalena Vigil-Tullar

HR Consultant | MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CLRP

Phone: 505-270-7494 | Email: magdalena@swhrc.com

PO Box 14274 | Albuquerque, NM 87191