Posts by Claire Hartley
CDC Shortens Recommended COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Periods
On Monday, December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated guidance for the general public that shortens the recommended time for isolation for those with COVID-19 and the time for quarantine for those exposed to COVID-19. The updated guidance does not apply to healthcare workers for whom the CDC has separately…
Read MoreCDC Relaxes In-School Masking Guidelines For Vaccinated Students And Staff
On Friday July 9, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed its guidance on mask-wearing within K-12 schools, advising that vaccinated teachers and students no longer need to wear masks inside school buildings. In anticipation of the 2021-2022 school year, the CDC published new guidelines, highlighting the need for flexible, context-specific decision-making…
Read MoreSupreme Court Rules in Student Free Speech Case
On June 23, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., finding in favor of the student plaintiff (B.L.) in a highly anticipated school speech case. The Supreme Court held that, though public schools may have a special interest in regulating certain off-campus student speech, the interests offered…
Read MoreTax Credits for Voluntary Employer-Paid Sick and Family Leave Expanded and Extended through September 30th Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan of 2021 into law. After several modifications by the House and Senate, the final version of the American Rescue Plan includes an extension of the tax credits for employer-paid sick leave and family leave through September 30, 2021. In general, this extends the…
Read MoreStimulus Bill Impact on FFCRA Paid Leave and Tax Credits
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law a new coronavirus stimulus bill that includes provisions which modify and extend certain parts of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA was set to expire on December 31, 2020. The new stimulus bill does not require employers to continue FFCRA paid leave benefits. …
Read MoreEEOC Provides Updated Technical Guidance Addressing COVID-19 Vaccinations
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has continued to provide guidance for employers regarding how to handle various workplace situations. The EEOC updated its technical assistance questions and answers on December 16, 2020 to address concerns related to COVID-19 vaccinations that have recently become available. One of the first questions employers…
Read MoreNew Notice Requirement to Employees Regarding Unemployment Benefits
Starting on November 2, 2020, Wisconsin employers must notify employees of the availability of Unemployment Insurance (UI) at the time of separation of employment. Separation of employment can include termination for misconduct, layoffs, and furloughs. This notice, however, does not guarantee that an employee will be eligible to receive UI Benefits, but requires the employer…
Read MoreCDC Expands Definition of “Close Contact”
On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) expanded on the definition of “close contact” for purposes of tracing cases of COVID-19, based on a new study. Previously, the CDC’s definition of “close contact” included individuals who spent 15 minutes or more within six feet of an individual infected with COVID-19. Now,…
Read MoreU.S. Department of Education Releases Additional Guidance on COVID-19 Disclosures
On September 24, 2020, the United States Department of Education released additional guidance related to disclosures of COVID-19 cases within schools. The Q&A reminds schools of the Department’s prior guidance in March of 2020, related to disclosure of student information, and highlights the most common questions related to this topic. This Legal Update will summarize…
Read MoreTitle IX Sexual Harassment Policy Checklist
As we reviewed in a previous Legal Update, the U.S. Department of Education issued new Title IX regulations establishing requirements for a school district’s response to reports of sexual harassment in its programs or activities. The new regulations went into effect on August 14, 2020, as schools were inundated with issues related to COVID-19 and school…
Read More