California has officially entered the "Beyond the Blueprint" framework for a safer economy. As of this past Tuesday, June 15th, all business sectors are allowed to return to normal operations, with limited exceptions for "mega events", meaning crowds greater than 5,000 indoors or 10,000 outdoors. Here is what you need to know about the current restrictions in place:

VICA is excited to see that the State is finally giving businesses the autonomy to move forward after this crisis. We look forward to the continued economic recovery that is to come. For more information about workplace masking requirements and employer guidelines, please read the Cal/OSHA Workplace Standards blurb below.

President's Circle:

Silver Member:

Members:

VICA has been active in discussions regarding updates to the Department of Industrial Relations Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Workplace Standards. We have expressed disapproval of recent passage of Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) that undermine critical work done to reopen the economy, and have urged the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to answer open-ended questions about navigating confusing and contradictory statements, liability, and regulations coming from various levels of government. While we still have concerns with some of the standards passed this week, we are happy that our advocacy work has paid off through a loosening and adjusting of many problematic restrictions.

One of the most critical concerns that VICA had about the ETS were the face covering requirements, which punished businesses for their employees' vaccination choices and did not align with CDC guidance. VICA argued that fully vaccinated employees should be allowed to remove face coverings in the workplace, as vaccines are readily available to all of California's workforce. VICA is happy to say that these requirements have been lifted, and vaccinated employees are able to go without masks in the workplace. But, VICA also expressed strong disapproval over the requirements for employers to stock respirators for unvaccinated employees, citing the high cost of N-95 and the potential for respirator shortages. Unfortunately, while there were many changes that make these requirements more friendly to employers, there are still many problems. The standards state that employers are permitted to poll workers to determine which employees wish to be provided a respirator. However, once an employer establishes demand, they must stock respirators in the correct size and type to reasonably foresee requests. Further, employers may permit employees to purchase their own respirators, but the employer will be liable to reimburse these personal costs.

VICA is glad that the Standards Board heeded many of our recommendations through these changes, but we will continue to fight for the business community. We are excited to mention that the Board established a subcommittee to discuss these standards as the economy reopens and scientific guidance continues to change.

Friday, July 9

On Tuesday, 15 months since COVID-19 took hold in California, the state rescinded most mask rules for vaccinated individuals and capacity limitations on businesses.

A booming U.S. economy is raising the U.S. dollar and driving worldwide inflation, forcing central banks to increase interest rates despite incomplete global recovery.

Biden signed a law to make Juneteenth (June 19th), which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, the 12th federal holiday.

California will stop giving unemployment benefits to those who are not actively applying for jobs for the first time since the requirement was lifted in March 2020.

Despite assurances that the power grid remains stable, California's energy operator has issued a statewide Flex Alert to conserve electricity beginning Thursday.

The City of Los Angeles filed a motion this week seeking dismissal of a "misguided" lawsuit compelling local authorities to give shelter to the population of Skid Row.

A tentative agreement between LAUSD and the teachers union requires masks to remain for all students and staff in the Fall, regardless of vaccination status.

More than 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in California, another major milestone for the state in the fight against the pandemic.

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