United States: FAQs On Occupational Safety And Health Administration

Q.  Does OSHA plan to enforce standards specifically with respect to Ebola?

A.  Yes, OSHA is carefully monitoring the Ebola virus, especially with respect to its impact on employees in the healthcare industry, including hospitals, nursing facilities and psychiatric facilities. It has created a centralized website for employers to familiarize themselves with the disease, including its transmission and what can be done to protect employees.

Q.  What are my obligations under the OSH Act to protect […]

By | November 2nd, 2014 ||

United States: Family And Medical Leave Act

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave “to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.” If an employee’s spouse or child has contracted Ebola, FMLA leave is most likely appropriate, even if the spouse or child is in a hospital’s isolation ward and the employee is not needed to care for the sick patient.  Federal guidance explains that […]

By | November 2nd, 2014 ||

United States: Department Of Labor Publishes Final Rule To Raise Minimum Wage For Certain Federal Contractors And Subcontractors

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor issued final regulations on October 1, 2014 to implement Executive Order 13658, Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors.  President Obama signed the Executive Order on February 12, 2014.  The Executive Order raises the hourly minimum wage that covered contractors pay to workers performing work on covered federal contracts to $10.10 per hour, effective January 1, 2015.  Beginning January 1, 2016 and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor […]

By | October 31st, 2014 ||