By Laura A. Pierson-Scheinberg & Kymiya St. Pierre on September 17, 2021-Jackson Lewis law firm
After the announcement of President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan, employers across the country, including California started to consider how to implement vaccination and testing requirements, even ahead of clear guidance from the federal government.
California already has its own Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) which were amended in June by Cal/OSHA. However, currently, the California ETS does not mandate vaccination and the Cal/OSHA Standards Board has indicated it does not plan to amend the ETS further until at least December.
California’s administrative agencies have issued some guidance regarding the handling of both testing and vaccination in the workplace.
Earlier in 2021, California’s Labor Commissioner issued an FAQ regarding COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination, which covers concerns related to regulations enforced by the Labor Commissioner.
Similarly, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing also updated its guidance regarding COVID-19, to include information pertaining to vaccination and related issues in March 2021.
As guidance about the federal requirements become clearer, employers should also review California-specific requirements related to vaccination and testing to ensure compliance with state and local requirements.