Compliance Stuff

  As the new year gets underway, one workplace risk is already clear: the current flu season is shaping up to be one of the more intense in recent years. Public health data shows high and rising flu activity across much of the country, which increases pressure on employers to manage absenteeism, protect employee health, keep operations running, and consider the question of vaccinations (among other things) . This Insight outlines what’s different about this flu season and why it should matter to employers, and gives you five practical steps to take now. What’s Different About This Year Several indicators suggest this is not a “routine” flu year. Staggering numbers The sheer number of estimated illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths from flu (as compiled by the CDC) is daunting for any year, but especially so early in the season. Increasing rate of illness The number of positive flu tests has spiked in the past few weeks. Holiday travel and gatherings appear to have accelerated com...

In a recent decision, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals highlighted the requirement that employees requesting an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must engage in the interactive process with their employers. The court in  Tarquinio v. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab  affirmed that the employer acted reasonably in requesting medical documentation and that the employee’s refusal to provide this information justified the denial of her accommodation request and her ultimate discharge. Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab required all employees to be vaccinated or obtain an exemption, in order to comply with then-applicable federal contractor mandates . A systems engineer requested a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. According to the court, in support of her request, she submitted a 2012 blood test and a form signed by her healthcare provider, citing “chronic ...

The U.S. is currently facing the worst flu season since 2009, and employers can’t afford to ignore it . Beyond the personal toll, flu outbreaks wreak havoc on businesses through lost productivity and absenteeism – and they can even present legal risks . The good news? A few strategic moves can help keep your workforce healthy and your operations running smoothly. Here is your five-step plan for handling the 2025 flu storm. Quick Background The United States is currently experiencing its most severe flu season since the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic . As of early February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  estimates  there have been at least 29 million flu cases, at least 370,000 hospitalizations, and at least 16,000 deaths this flu season . This surge in flu-related hospitalizations has significantly strained healthcare systems nationwide, with certain regions, such as New York and California, reporting unprecedented levels of flu activity. Health officials attrib...

  An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas is alarming health officials and the general public, and you might be wondering how your workforce could be impacted or how you should respond . We’ll explain what employers need to know about the surge of TB cases impacting the Kansas City area and what you should do to mitigate health, safety, and legal risks in your workplace. What’s Happening in Kansas? A surge of tuberculosis cases has been impacting the Kansas City area since last January.  Data from state health officials  (which includes case counts as of Jan. 24) reflects: 67 active cases  (including 60 in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County) have been reported since 2024 – an unusually high number for anywhere in the U.S. in modern times . It’s been widely reported that two individuals died last year from active TB infections related to this outbreak. At least   79 cases of latent infections  (including 77 in Wyandotte County and two in Johnson...