On May 17, 2022, the Mayo Clinic was sued by a former employee who believes her religious freedoms were violated by the Clinic’s workplace vaccine policies. Notably, Mayo Clinic accepted the plaintiff’s request for a religious exemption from its vaccine requirement. But the employee, Sherry Ihde, claims Mayo Clinic’s requirement that employees exempt from the
coronavirus
OSHA to issue Vaccine and Testing Mandates to Large Employers
On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration announced the U.S. Labor Department (DOL) will issue an emergency rule requiring companies with 100 or more employees to ensure employees are either fully vaccinated or test negative for Covid-19 at least once a week.
This emergency rule was one part of a series of aggressive initiatives to…
EEOC says employers can require and provide incentives for employees to get vaccinated
On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance for employers on whether it is legal for companies to require workers to get coronavirus vaccines.
Vaccine Requirements
In the EEOC’s guidance, the Agency said it is legal for employers to require workers to get coronavirus vaccines, subject only to the reasonable …
Michigan Issues New COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules; Drops Mask Requirements for Vaccinated Employees
Today, MIOSHA updated its COVID-19 Workplace Rules under Gov. Whitmer’s MI Vacc to Normal plan.
The changes, which reflect the recent order from MDHHS and guidance from the CDC, include:
- Employers may allow fully vaccinated employees not to wear face coverings and social distance provided they have a policy deemed effective to ensure non-vaccinated individuals
…
Employers Face Questions on Requiring Employees to Get Covid-19 Vaccination
Since March 23, 2020, non-essential employers and employees in Michigan have mostly been restricted from in-person work that is unnecessary to sustain or protect life. That and later stay-at-home orders were in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. That’s about to change. And with this change, employers will need to decide whether employees must be vaccinated …
Michigan Enacts COVID-19 Liability Protections for Businesses and Employees
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law bipartisan legislation known as the “COVID-19 Response and Reopening Liability Assurance Act” (COVID Assurance Act).
Why it Matters:
This Act provides protections to Michigan workers relating to the spread of COVID-19 and protecting businesses that implement strict safety measures to keep workers, customers, and their families safe. Further,…
Michigan Supreme Court’s Decision Against COVID-19 Executive Orders Still No Treat for Business

The Michigan Supreme Court, in a divided opinion, recently invalidated Michigan’s Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945, MCL 10.31 et seq. This was the statute under which Governor Whitmer issued a number of COVID-19 executive orders. Those orders, therefore, will now be void by the end of…
Trump’s Unmasking Reveals an Example no Business Leader Should Follow.
Today, Mr. Trump was released from the hospital after three days of being treated for COVID-19. He returned to the Whitehouse to immediately provide an egregious example that no company should follow when it comes to COVID-19.
Specifically, Mr. Trump decided to pose for an obvious photo and video shoot in the Whitehouse by removed…
Michigan Employer Sued After Allegedly Firing Worker Diagnosed with COVID-19
A Michigan based company was recently sued for allegedly firing its assistant manager after contracting the COVID-19 virus. The suit claims this firing violated the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and Michigan Executive Order 2020-36.
Why It Matters:
Two things stand out about this…
Michigan Launches COVID-19 Ambassador Program to Educate Michigan Businesses on Workplace Safety Guidelines
Michigan’s Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) launched a new program focused on supporting Michigan businesses to reopen safely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is called the MIOSHA Ambassador Program. It offers education and one-on-one guidance to help businesses understand regulations on workplace…