Labor Week: Vaccine Mandate Exemptions in FL, ID; CA’s $500K COVID-19-Related Judgement against Amazon & More

FL to Consider New COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Exemptions:

Florida lawmakers swiftly enacted legislation loosening COVID-19 workplace vaccination requirements in special session last week. The legislation (HB 1 b) provides new exemptions from such mandates for workers with health issues, a religious conflict with vaccination, or proof of immunity, or who are willing to submit to “periodic testing” or wear PPE provided by their employer. The state’s lawmakers weren’t due to consider any more legislation until January, but Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called them back to challenge the rule from the Biden administration requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19. (TAMPA BAY TIMES, MIAMI HERALD, STATE NET)

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Restrictions Advance in ID:

Idaho’s House Committee on Business referred two bills to the floor dealing with COVID-19 vaccination mandates. HB 415 would add vaccine exemptions, including natural immunity, to state law, and HB 419 would prohibit employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. (IDAHO STATESMAN [BOISE], STATE NET)

Amazon to Pay CA $500K for COVID-19-Related Workplace Safety Violation:

Amazon has agreed to pay California $500,000 for failing to disclose COVID-19 case numbers to its workers and local health agencies. The judgement is the first in connection with the state’s new “right to know” law (AB 685), enacted in September 2020. (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

6^TH Circuit to Take Up Biden Vaccine Mandate Challenges:

The 6^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear a consolidation of 34 lawsuits challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 workplace vaccination rule. Although chosen randomly, the Cincinnati-based court is the preferred venue for opponents of the federal mandate, with 10 of its members having been appointed by Republican presidents and five appointees of Democratic presidents. (INSURANCE JOURNAL)

Tesla Requests Retrial of Workplace Racial Bias Case:

Tesla is seeking a new trial and reconsideration of the damage award in the workplace racial bias case that concluded on Oct. 4. The jury in that case found that the company failed to take appropriate steps to protect an employee from racial bias at its facility in northern California in 2015 and 2016, awarding the employee, Oscar Diaz, $6.9 billion in compensatory damages and $130 million in punitive damages. (INSURANCE JOURNAL)

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK