EEOC Updates Its Guidance To Address COVID-19 Workplace Testing
By: Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its Guidance with respect to COVID-19 workplace testing. According to the EEOC, an employer may administer a […]
Massachusetts Ending COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Paid Sick Leave on March 15, 2022
By: Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
On February 28, 2022, the Commonwealth announced that required employer-provided leave under An Act Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave will end, effective […]
United States Supreme Court Halts Enforcement Of OSHA’s ETS for Private Employers with 100+ Employees
By: Laura M. Raisty, Esq. & Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
The Biden Administration’s attempt to enforce OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) has been halted, once again. On January 13, 2022, […]
Massachusetts Adopts CDC’s Newly Issued Guidance Relating To Isolation & Quarantine; Interplay with OSHA’s ETS
By: Laura M. Raisty, Esq. & Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
On January 9, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) provided additional guidance to clarify its December 27, 2021 […]
OSHA’s Weekly Testing Or Vaccine Mandate For Employers With 100+ Employees Reinstated; Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate Still Blocked
By: Laura M. Raisty, Esq. & Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
Two courts recently issued decisions relating to vaccination mandates: one court lifted the stay on the OSHA “vaccine or test” mandate for […]
Court Temporarily Halts Enforcement Of The Federal Contractor COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate
By: Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq. & Laura M. Raisty, Esq.
On December 7, 2021, the United States District Court for The Southern District of Georgia halted enforcement of President […]
Bad medicine for business? Vaccine mandate for Central Mass. companies of 100 a ‘recipe for disaster’
Michelle De Oliveira was quoted in the Telegram & Gazette article below by Henry Schwan.
They say it’s bad for business. One legal expert says the mandates should hold up in court.
WORCESTER — Some of […]
Two Days After OSHA’s Issuance Of The Emergency Temporary Standard Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination And Testing For Employers With 100+ Employees, A Court Halts Enforcement
by Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
On November 6, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted an emergency motion to stay enforcement of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), issued just […]
OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing For Employers With 100+ Employees
by Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq.
On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that we had been waiting for following the Biden Administration’s September 9th […]
Guidance Issued for Federal Contractors on Vaccine Mandate and Requirements for Masking and Social Distancing
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced his Path Out of the Pandemic: COVID-19 Action Plan. As part of […]
Covid-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Extended Through April 1, 2022
On September 29, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed an extension of the Massachusetts Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law. This legislation extends paid sick […]
News From the White House: COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates for Federal Workers, Federal Contractors & for Employers with 100+ Employees
On September 9, 2021, the White House released two signed Executive Orders immediately after President Biden’s remarks regarding the Administration’s […]
As of May 29, 2021, the Mask Mandate Will Be Lifted in Massachusetts For Those Who Are Fully Vaccinated
On May 17, 2021, we issued a client alert highlighting the CDC’s decision to lift mask mandates for those who are […]
New Development for Massachusetts Employers: COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave
On May 28, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed An Act Providing For Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave into law. […]
CDC Lifts Mask Requirement for Those Who Are Fully Vaccinated—But Massachusetts Employers Should Hold Tight
On May 13, 2021, the CDC lifted the mask mandate and the need to social distance for those […]
Business Litigation Session Judge Dismisses Restaurants’ Covid-19 Claims Against Insurance Carrier
Courts have begun issuing decisions concerning insurance coverage for Covid-19 claims. Kenney & Sams anticipated back in March 2020 that insurers would likely deny business […]
Employers Beware: Practical Implications Of Governor Baker’s Newly Issued Travel Order, Effective August 1, 2020, in the Workplace
By: Michelle De Oliveira, Esq.
On July 24, 2020, Governor Baker issued a COVID-19 Travel Order[1] to safeguard residents from exposure to the Coronavirus due to interstate travel. The Travel Order went […]
Local Bill Intended to Aid Very Small Business
In late-March the Massachusetts House of Representatives introduced Bill HD.4985, a proposed stimulus package to support micro-business during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed grant subsidy, introduced by Rep. Carlos […]
DOL Guidance On The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
By: Michelle De Oliveira, Esq.
As you may already know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), effective on April 1, 2020, requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid sick leave and […]
Governor Baker Revises Non-Essential Business Emergency Order
GOVERNOR BAKER REVISES NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ORDER: EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2020, NOON, ALL PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION UNRELATED TO HOUSING, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OR COVID-19 SHUT DOWN
by: J. Nathan Cole
Dear Kenney & Sams clients […]
DOL Announcement: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Effective on April 1st & Model Notice
By: Michelle De Oliveira, Esq.
On March 24, 2020, the DOL announced that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will be effective as of April 1st. The statute will be effective through December 31, […]
Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Update: Massachusetts Senate Considers Retroactively Expanding Coverage to Include Covid-19 Based Claims
By: J. Nathan Cole
Massachusetts State Senator James B. Eldridge from Middlesex and Worcester Districts has introduced a bill (S.D. 2888) to rewrite and retroactively expand business interruption coverage to include losses caused by COVID-19. […]
Governor Baker authorizes construction work to resume in Boston and Cambridge; Mayor Walsh responds, extending his order pausing non-essential construction in Boston.
Dear Kenney & Sams clients and friends,
We write to update you on significant and developing Orders directed at construction in the Commonwealth. Earlier today, Governor Baker
Paid Sick Leave & Tax Credit For Businesses On The Horizon As The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Is Signed Into Law
On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law. This legislation is designed to […]
Construction Continues
Construction contractors in the Commonwealth may continue to operate and perform work on jobsites, subject to local municipal restrictions. Certain businesses are exempt from Governor […]
Construction Activity Suspended in City of Boston
Kenney & Sams, P.C. hopes that this message finds you, your families and colleagues in good health and safe circumstances. The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak continues to […]
COVID-19: Changes in The Landscape Of Unemployment Benefits, Layoffs Versus Furloughs & The WARN Act.
Part I: Changes in the Landscape of Unemployment Benefits
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (“DUA”) has adopted emergency regulations (430 CMR 22:00) to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardship it may cause to businesses and employees.
Coronavirus Claims and Coverage: What Happens Next?
In these unprecedented times, Kenney & Sams, P.C., is fielding calls from clients asking whether their business insurance policies provide coverage to help offset or […]
Coronavirus: What All Employers Should Know
The apparent spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is generating concerns in the workplace and employers have questions, understandably so. As of March 11, […]