In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on Friday, June 24. This ruling revokes the constitutional right to an abortion, which was originally passed in 1973. Five of the six conservative justices voted to overturn Roe while the three liberal judges along with Chief Justice John …
Juneteenth
History The celebration of Juneteenth can be traced back to the late 1800s. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the United States, but it wasn’t until over two years later that the news reached enslaved African Americans in Texas. Union …
The United States is “Out of the Pandemic Stage”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious-disease expert, stated the United States is “out of the pandemic phase.” The statement does not mean the COVID-19 pandemic is over, rather the level of hospitalizations and deaths has declined to a manageable point within the country. Fauci advises caution as the virus …
Mask Mandate Dropped for Public Transportation
On April 18, 2022, the federal judge for the Middle District of Florida claimed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exceeded its authority by enforcing the national mask mandate. As a result, the mask requirement was invalidated for public transportation. The Biden administration is currently reviewing the judge’s …
Employee Benefits in State of the Union Address
President Biden gave the State of the Union (SOTU) address on March 1, 2022. In his speech, he covered international affairs and domestic matters affecting the workplace. Drug Costs Insulin currently costs hundreds of dollars per month with Biden proposing a $35 per month cap on insulin prices. Similarly, it …
Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in the Workplace
Black History Month is an excellent opportunity to celebrate employees’ cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds while simultaneously working to end discrimination and biases. According to Carter G. Woodson, the “father of black history,” equality can only come through the understanding and acknowledgment of a race’s history. In the workplace, there …
OSHA Withdraws COVID-19 ETS—Not Proposed Permanent Rule
Effective January 26, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it is withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccination and weekly testing emergency temporary standard (ETS). Once the notice is published in the Federal Register, the withdrawal will be official. When the ETS was published, OSHA confirmed it was using the ETS …
What Remains in the Build Back Better Act
The Build Back Better Act has undergone various compromises and changes since its conception. Currently, the House-passed bill plans to make major changes to three areas: the tax system, social services, and the energy sector. In the social spending category, there are two areas where the spending is allocated: spending …
Rule Proposed to Extend ACA Reporting Furnishing Deadlines
The IRS recently released a proposed rule to extend the annual furnishing deadlines for Sections 6055 and 6056 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new rule would extend the due date for furnishing statements to individuals under Sections 6055 and 6056 by 30 days from January 31 each …
The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act just advanced to the Senate. If it passes, the bill will require employers with 25 or more employees to allow time and a non-bathroom, private space for lactating parents. This new bill builds off the Fair Labor Standards Act in 2010, where the requirement …
Temporary Stay Ordered on OSHA COVID-19 ETS
On November 6, 2021, a temporary stay was ordered by the fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The ETS was announced on November 4, 2021, requiring COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing in the workplace. The stay order blocks …
White House Plans to Vaccinate Children Ages 5 to 11
On October 20, 2021, the plan to vaccinate children between the ages of 5 and 11 was released by the White House. The Biden administration is currently awaiting authorization from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this age group. However, in anticipation of the impending approval, vaccines have been obtained …
Pandemic Enhanced Federal Unemployment Benefits End
Effective September 6th, three federal unemployment programs have officially expired. These programs include Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). Through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, gig workers and freelancers, who were usually not eligible for unemployment, received up to 79 weeks of unemployment …
Local Company Pledges $100,000 to Support Youth Athletic Groups
Evercor Facility Management of Wyoming, Luzerne County, a full-service facility maintenance firm, is partnering with its subsidiaries, Turfcor Lawn and Tree Care and Procor Pest Control, pledging $100,000 in grants to support youth athletics throughout eastern Pennsylvania. Like several organizations that have taken a hit since the beginning of the …
Chester County Food Bank — Supporting the Local Community
The Chester County Food Bank has gone above and beyond to give back to their community through numerous food drives, donations and educational programs. One particular group of volunteers, referred to as the “Tuesday Terrors,” offer their time every Tuesday morning to quickly and efficiently get food into the hands …