StokesLaw™ Briefs

After nearly three years, Governor Inslee's COVID-19 Emergency Declaration will end on October 31, 2022.

House Bill 1795, or the "Silenced No More Act," prevents an employer and employee from agreeing to refrain from discussing conduct that the employee reasonably believed to be illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violation, or sexual assault.

As of March 12, state law will no longer require face masks in most settings. Restrictions will be lifted in the following types of venues – though individual venues, stores, school districts, and other entities remain able to set more strict requirements.

On January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court stayed implementation of OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) requiring employee vaccination or weekly testing at businesses with at least 100 employees.

This week OSHA, a part of the U.S. Department of Labor, released the rule that implements a requirement for vaccination or weekly testing of all employees at employers with 100 or more employees. OSHA's summary of the rule can be read here. The rule is called an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), and takes effect immediately on publication, which is scheduled for Friday, November 5, 2021. Here's what you need to know:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's guidance about COVID in the workplace and adds details about employers' obligations with respect to employee requests to skip the COVID-19 vaccine on the basis of religious observance or belief.