This week, we’re recapping some of the biggest changes that impacted employers in 2021. We also look ahead to what’s in store in the new year.

Video: YouTube, Vimeo.

Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher.

A Shift in Labor Policy and Enforcement

The Biden administration is ushering in more labor- and employee-friendly policies. The personnel changes and updated enforcement agenda at the National Labor Relations Board best exemplify this shift. The Biden administration has also made clear that it plans to be more rigorous when it comes to enforcement.

Employee Mobility Trend Accelerates

Employers saw the employee mobility trend pick up this year. Behind this trend is an increase in state legislation limiting the use of non-compete agreements. Court decisions have also become more critical of non-compete agreements, with many courts refusing to enforce broad restrictions.

COVID-19 Rules Remain in Flux

Many employers opened up offices or implemented hybrid work environments while also navigating this year’s constantly changing requirements on vaccination and masking policies, privacy protections, and accommodations. Just this week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced new enforcement deadlines for the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard after a nationwide injunction was lifted.

Other Highlights

COVID-19 WORKFORCE (re)sources
Click here to see what state and local governments have done to address the COVID-19 pandemic this week.

CMS Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Testing in the Workplace
Health Employment and Labor
Allen Killworth, Nancy Gunzenhauser Popper, Denise Merna Dadika, Nathaniel Glasser, and Bob Hearn

The EEOC Releases Guidance: What Employers Should Know About COVID-19
Workforce Bulletin
Susan Gross Sholinsky, Frank Morris, and Kamil Gajda

New Year, New Laws Impacting California Employers
Insight
David Prager, Jennifer Nutter, Alice Kwak, and Vidaur Durazo

Holiday Cyber Storm Warnings
Health Law Advisor
Stuart Gerson and Alaap Shah

About Employment Law This Week

Employment Law This Week® gives a rundown of the top developments in employment and labor law and workforce management in a matter of minutes every #WorkforceWednesday®. 

SUBSCRIBE TO #WORKFORCEWEDNESDAY®

Prefer to Listen?

You can subscribe to Employment Law This Week episodes on your preferred podcast platform – Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audacy, Audible, Deezer, Goodpods, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pandora, Player FM, Pocket Casts, Spotify, YouTube Music.

Spread the Word

Megaphone

Would your colleagues, professional network, or friends benefit from #WorkforceWednesday? Please like and share the edition each week on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and YouTube, and encourage your connections to subscribe for email notifications.

Trouble viewing the video? Please contact thisweek@ebglaw.com and mention whether you were at home or working within a corporate network. We'd also love your suggestions for topics and guests!

EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS WEEK® and #WorkforceWednesday® are registered trademarks of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

Back to Series
Jump to Page

Privacy Preference Center

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.