Michelle S. Strowhiro
Subscribe to Michelle S. Strowhiro's PostsMichelle S. Strowhiro is an employment advisor and litigator. She provides trusted counsel to US and international companies on all aspects of employment law compliance. Michelle partners with clients to establish and maintain their strong and lawful employment policies and practices; manage their employee relationships from hire to termination; conduct workplace investigations; administer leaves and other workplace accommodations; and resolve disputes. She provides manager and employee trainings on management and sexual harassment. She regularly prepares and negotiates agreements, and advises companies on employment law issues for mergers and acquisitions. Michelle works with clients in the technology, fashion, food and restaurant, health care, sports, media and entertainment industries. Read Michelle Strowhiro's full bio.
Vaccine Requirements in the Workplace
By Michelle S. Strowhiro on Oct 6, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
As more and more private and public companies require vaccinations, employees are finding it increasingly difficult to avoid these mandates. In this BBC Radio 5 Live interview, McDermott Partner Michelle Strowhiro noted that US employers have a right to mandate vaccination for any employee that is in an employer’s office. “As such, if an employee...
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Business Groups Want to Have a Say in Biden’s Vaccine Requirement
By Michelle S. Strowhiro on Oct 1, 2021
Posted In Employment
While many of the United States’ largest corporations don’t oppose the Biden administration’s vaccine requirements for many employers, those companies say many of their questions about the administration’s rule have gone unanswered. The new rule requires employers with more than 100 employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or require weekly testing of employees. In an article...
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Deadline for NY Employers: Workplace Safety Plan Due October 6, 2021
By Abigail M. Kagan, Michelle S. Strowhiro and Lindsay Ditlow on Sep 17, 2021
Posted In Employment
On September 6, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health” under the New York Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act. This designation means that all New York employers must activate the workplace safety plans that they developed...
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OSHA Updates COVID-19 Safety Guidance for All Industries
By Michelle S. Strowhiro and Abigail M. Kagan on Sep 7, 2021
Posted In Employment
On August 13, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its COVID-19 guidance documents for employers in all industries. The new recommendations echo those published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 27, 2021, and build upon OSHA’s healthcare industry requirements. In some of its most powerful...
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Mask Up, Vax Up: Illinois Governor Issues Immediate Face Covering Mandate for All, COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare, School and State Workers and Students
By Michelle S. Strowhiro, Dawn Peacock, Brian Mead and Michael J. Sheehan on Sep 2, 2021
Posted In Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On August 26, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2021-20 (the Order). The Order mandates that all individuals in Illinois who are at least two years old and who are medically able must wear face coverings indoors and in other specified settings. In addition, the Order mandates COVID-19 vaccination for certain professionals in...
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Pfizer’s Full Approval Triggers New Vaccine Mandates
By Michelle S. Strowhiro on Aug 26, 2021
Posted In Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
The full US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has led to vaccine mandates by both governments and businesses. More companies will implement their own vaccine requirements in light of the FDA approval, according to McDermott partner Michelle Strowhiro in this The Hill article. “What employers are trying to balance...
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California Requires Vaccines or Regular COVID-19 Testing for Certain Healthcare Workers and State Employees
By Michelle S. Strowhiro and Ludia Kwon on Aug 4, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On July 26, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a new Order that impacts healthcare and state employers in California. According to McDermott’s Michelle S. Strowhiro, Ellen M. Bronchetti and Ludia Kwon, the CDPH Order requires that almost all healthcare employers verify the vaccination status of all of their workers. The Order...
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Can Employers Offer COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives for Employees?
By Michelle S. Strowhiro and Ludia Kwon on Jul 28, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
Can employers offer incentives for employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine? In short, yes. Incentives may take many forms, such as a one-time bonus, a gift card or a few extra vacation hours. Employers can get creative. According to McDermott’s Michelle S. Strowhiro, Judith Wethall and Ludia Kwon, there are two issues to consider when...
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Verifying Vaccination Status: What Employers Need to Know
By Michelle S. Strowhiro on Jun 24, 2021
Posted In Employment
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently offered employers leeway to relax safety rules for fully vaccinated workers. However, experts say that validating who is vaccinated is rife with potentially costly missteps. In an article published in Law360, McDermott partner Michelle S. Strowhiro said employers must be careful not to ask follow-up...
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OSHA’s COVID-19 Requirements for Healthcare Employers Take Effect
By Abigail M. Kagan and Michelle S. Strowhiro on Jun 23, 2021
Posted In Employment
On June 21, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) long-anticipated Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 requirements in the healthcare industry went into effect. Most of the requirements must be followed by July 6, 2021; the remainder (on implementing physical barriers, improved ventilation systems and employee trainings) must be implemented no later...
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