Here is a summary of the top three new laws all California employers need to be ready for as we bid "adieu" to 2021 and welcome in 2022:

COVID-19: The one thing we have all learned over the last two years is that nothing in connection with COVID-19 stays the same for too long and laws regarding workplace protocols to protect against the spread of COVID are no exception. Cal/OSHA has updated its November 2020, Emergency Temporary Standard ("ETS") with the amendments kicking-in on January 14, 2022 and remaining in place until at least April 14, 2022. Cal/OSHA's most recent amendments to its ETS include:

• Mask Requirements: Cal/OSHA is requiring that all California employers provide unvaccinated employees with face covering of at least two layers and ensure that the unvaccinated employees are wearing the face coverings anytime they are in common areas within the workplace. Two things to note here: first, both the state of California and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health currently define "fully vaccinated" as those employees whom an employer has confirmed received, at least 14 days prior, the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series or a single dose COVID-19 vaccination. Second, employers located in Los Angeles county are held to a higher standard and must require all employees to wear masks while in common areas of the workplace regardless of their vaccination status.
• Returning to Work after "Close Contact" or a Positive COVID Diagnosis: The amended...

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