As Michigan employers prepare for a return to in-person work, Michigan’s Universities are leading the way on vaccination policies. On July 30, 2021, Both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan rolled out mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for all employees (and students) returning to campus this fall. Many hospitals and health-care settings have already announced similar policies. With proper exemptions in place, mandatory vaccination policies Continue reading “Public, Private Employers Roll Out Workplace Vaccination Requirements for In-Person Work”
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Category: Disability and Medical Leave
RETURN-TO-WORK: WORKPLACE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DURING COVID-19
For those who are working in public during the COVID-19 outbreak, effective workplace safety is a great concern. For everyone’s safety, violations should be reported to local public health departments and appropriate state agencies. Discrimination or retaliation for raising COVID-19 workplace safety concerns is prohibited.
Continue reading “RETURN-TO-WORK: WORKPLACE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DURING COVID-19”
COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT LAW INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present many challenges for the Michigan workplace. The law and circumstances are changing almost daily. We are regularly monitoring and updating workplace rights resources we have found helpful. Additional Blanchard & Walker Resource Pages and Factsheets provide more detailed discussion on specific COVID-19 topics:
- Workplace Safety – Industry Specific and Local Guidance in Michigan
- UIA Unemployment Benefits in Michigan under COVID-19
- The Courts and COVID-19
Continue reading “COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT LAW INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES”
COVID -19 EMPLOYMENT LAW INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES
The COVID-19 Outbreak is presenting many challenges for the Michigan workplace. Yet the law and circumstances are changing almost daily. We are regularly monitoring and updating workplace rights resources we have found helpful. We are updating this material as it becomes available. Keep in mind this is not intended to be legal advice. Legal rights in any individual case need to be evaluated in consultation with an attorney.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND COVID-19
As of April 13, 2020, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has begun accepting applications for the broadest category of potential recipients under federal law reforms related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “COVID -19 EMPLOYMENT LAW INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES”
COVID-19 and Employment Law Practices – Q&A with Angela Walker
Attorney Angela Walker on COVID-19, advising employees, and the practice of law. This article was originally prepared for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education March 27, 2020. The original post can be found here. 
Angela Walker is a founding partner at Blanchard & Walker PLLC. Angela handles severance negotiations and career strategies for her clients. She has extensive experience with equal pay, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and disability rights cases. Here, Angela shares some of her thoughts on practicing during this time, as well as her analysis of some of the biggest issues facing employees. Continue reading “COVID-19 and Employment Law Practices – Q&A with Angela Walker”
ADA Accommodations: Justice Settlement Means Revised University of Michigan Practices, Guidelines
Imagine a chronic illness or other disability makes it you unable to continue to do the job you held for years. There’s a job opening down the hall for a job you could do, but the HR department says you have to re-apply and, even if qualified, to compete in the same pool without outside applicants. Thats the jist of the Justice Department’s complaint against the University of Michigan. At the same time the complaint was filed on July 22, 2015, the DOJ announced a settlement agreement with the University that would do away with its long standing policy of refusing transfers to open positions as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless the employee is the best qualified. Continue reading “ADA Accommodations: Justice Settlement Means Revised University of Michigan Practices, Guidelines”