World Health Organization Archives - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

Monkeypox in the Workplace: Key Considerations for Employers

by Michelle S. Strowhiro and Lindsay Ditlow | Aug 4, 2022 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor

As of July 26, 2022, there are 3,591 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General has declared the multi-country monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). With much about the potential impact and scope of monkeypox still unknown, employers should consider taking proactive steps now, as may be appropriate for their workforce, to enhance and reinforce the safety protocols already in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.

California Requires Vaccines or Regular COVID-19 Testing for Certain Healthcare Workers and State Employees

by Michelle S. Strowhiro and Ludia Kwon | Aug 4, 2021 | 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 also requires workers who are not fully vaccinated to go through regular COVID-19 testing at specified intervals. These facilities also must have a plan in place for tracking verified worker vaccination statuses.

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In Spain, Employers Contend with Pandemic’s Changing Impact

by Brian S. Cousin | Sep 1, 2020 | Employee Benefits, Employment

Employers in Spain are contending with the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to raise health and safety concerns. A resurgence of COVID-19 cases in July prompted some parts of the country to re-implement restrictions that had been lifted earlier.

“Spain was among the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus,” said Brian Cousin, head of the employment practice group at McDermott Will & Emery, in a recent article by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Employers and HR professionals in Spain should monitor news about national and local restrictions and regulations, as well as new guidance issued by local health authorities, the Spanish Health Ministry and the World Health Organization, according to Cousin. “Local and regional requirements can change on a daily basis,” he said.

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