District of Columbia Employment and Labor Law Updates 2021


December

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


November

COVID Vaccination Leave

Bill

Bill 376

Summary

Declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 to provide leave for COVID vaccinations and recovery, the District of Columbia Family and Medical Leave Act of 1990 to extend and update existing unpaid leave available for COVID-related purposes, and the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 to make conforming amendments.

Enacted

11/02/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Covid; Paid_leave; Vaccination


COVID Vaccination Leave Emergency Amendment Act of 2021

Bill

Bill 404

Summary

Amends the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 to provide paid time off for COVID vaccinations and recovery; amends the District of Columbia Family and Medical Leave Act of 1990 to extend and update existing unpaid leave available for COVID related purposes; provides for the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 to make conforming amendments.

Enacted

11/18/2021

Effective Date

11/18/2021

Topics

Child; Emergency; Family; Paid_leave; Vaccination


October

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


September

DCPS Drug Testing Clarification

Bill

Bill 304

Summary

Amends, on an temporary basis, the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to clarify that the District of Columbia Public Schools shall not require volunteers to take a drug test, other than a test required because of a reasonable suspicion, and that paid employees of a partner organization working in a DCPS school shall not be required to take a test for marijuana, other than a test based on reasonable suspicion.

Enacted

09/22/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Volunteer; Alcohol_testing; Drug_testing


August

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


July

DCPS Drug Testing Clarification

Bill

Bill 303

Summary

Amends, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act; provides that a volunteer at a District of Columbia Public School shall only be tested for drug and alcohol use based on reasonable suspicion; provides marijuana testing rules and procedures for an employee of a private contractual provider or a private licensed provider who is not an employee of a child development facility licensed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Enacted

07/15/2021

Effective Date

07/15/2021

Topics

Volunteer; Alcohol_testing; Drug_testing


June

District Government Family Bereavement Leave

Bill

Resolution 273

Summary

Declares the existence of an emergency, due to Congressional review, with respect to the need to amend the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to provide paid leave for a District government employee when the employee suffers the death of the employee’s minor child or a stillbirth.

Enacted

06/01/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Government; Bereavement


Coronavirus Support Congressional Review

Bill

Bill 257

Summary

To provide, on a emergency basis, due to congressional review, for the health, safety, and welfare of District residents and support to businesses during the current public health emergency; and for other purposes.

Enacted

06/07/2021

Effective Date

06/07/2021

Topics

Covid; Emergency; Unemployment


District Government Family Bereavement Leave

Bill

Bill 287

Summary

To amend, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to provide paid leave for a District government employee when the employee suffers the death of the employee’s minor child or a stillbirth.

Enacted

06/17/2021

Effective Date

06/17/2021

Topics

Child; Stillbirth; Bereavement


Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978

Bill

Bill 52

Summary

Provides, on a temporary basis, the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978; provides paid leave due to the death of a family member of a District government employee when the employee suffers the death of the employee’s minor child or a stillbirth.

Enacted

06/24/2021

Effective Date

06/24/2021

Topics

Child; Stillbirth; Government; Bereavement


Coronavirus Support

Bill

Bill 140

Summary

Provides, on a temporary basis, for the health, safety, and welfare of District residents and support to businesses during the current public health emergency.

Enacted

06/24/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Covid; Emergency; Unemployment


Collective Bargaining Agreement

Bill

Resolution 300

Summary

Relates to Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Not-for-Profit Hospital Corporation and the District of Columbia Nurses Association Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2021.

Enacted

06/29/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Collective_bargaining; Labor_law


Collective Bargaining Agreement Approval

Bill

Resolution 301

Summary

Relates to Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Not-for-Profit Hospital Corporation and the District of Columbia Nurses Association Emergency Approval Resolution of 2021.

Enacted

06/29/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Collective_bargaining; Labor_law


May

Short-term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection

Bill

Resolution 158

Summary

Declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 to prohibit the reduction of short-term disability benefits based on actual or estimated paid leave benefits; and to amend Title I of the Insurance Trade and Economic Development Amendment Act of 2000 to prohibit an insurer from offsetting or reducing benefits under a short-term disability insurance policy based on estimated or actual benefits received under the Universal Paid Leave.

Enacted

05/04/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Government; Bonding; Family; Medical; Parental


Workplace Safety During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Bill

Bill 59

Summary

Requires employers to adopt and implement workplace safety policies that adhere to all applicable Mayor’s Orders related to the COVID-19 public health emergency; prohibits retaliation against an employee for taking actions related to complying with, stopping a violation of, or complaining about an employer’s actions related to applicable COVID-19 health and safety laws and practices, testing positive or quarantining because of COVID-19.

Enacted

05/13/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Attorney_fees; Attorney_general; Civil_action; Equitable_relief; Fines; Punitive_damages; Restitution; Contact_tracking; Covid; Notice; Policy_permitted; Emergency; Medical; Close_contact; Quarantine; Retaliation; Whistleblower; Unemployment; Workers_comp; PPE; Person_protect_equip


April

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


March

Emergency Declaration Resolution

Bill

Resolution 63

Summary

Declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to provide paid bereavement leave to District government employees for the death of a family member, third-trimester miscarriages, and stillbirths.

Enacted

03/02/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Child; Miscarriage; Stillbirth; Bereavement


Coronavirus Support

Bill

Bill 139

Summary

Provides for the health, safety, and welfare of District residents and support to businesses during the current public health emergency.

Enacted

03/17/2021

Effective Date

03/17/2021

Topics

Covid; Emergency; unemployment


District Government Family Bereavement Leave

Bill

Bill 51

Summary

Provides, on an emergency basis, authority to the Executive; provides paid leave due to the death of a family member of a District government employee, an employee’s third-trimester miscarriage, and stillbirth.

Enacted

03/22/2021

Effective Date

03/22/2021

Topics

Child; Stillbirth; Government; Bereavement


February

Protecting Businesses and Workers from COVID 19

Bill

Bill 2

Summary

Requires employers to adopt and implement certain social distancing policies; prohibits retaliation against an employee who refuses to work with or serve an individual who refuses to comply with those policies; prohibits retaliation against an employee because the employee tests positive for or is quarantining because of coronavirus.

Enacted

02/01/2021

Effective Date

02/01/2021

Topics

Attorney_fees; Backpay; Equitable_relief; Fines; Covid; Covid; Notice; Policy_requirement; Family; Retaliation; Social_distancing


Emergency Declaration Resolution

Bill

Resolution 68

Summary

Declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the need employers to adopt and implement workplace safety policies that adhere to all applicable Mayor’s Orders related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, to prohibit retaliation against an employee for taking actions related to complying with, stopping a violation of, or complaining about an employer’s actions related to applicable COVID-19 health and safety laws and practices, testing positive or quarantining because of COVID-19.

Enacted

02/02/2021

Effective Date

02/01/2021

Topics

Covid; EEs_right_to_discuss; Retaliation; Health; Safety


Workplace Safety During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Bill

Bill 58

Summary

Requires employers to adopt and implement workplace safety policies that adhere to all applicable Mayor’s Orders related to the COVID-19 public health emergency; prohibits retaliation against an employee for taking actions related to complying with, stopping a violation of, or complaining about an employer’s actions related to applicable COVID-19 health and safety laws and practices, testing positive or quarantining because of COVID-19, or caring for someone who has COVID-19 symptoms.

Enacted

02/26/2021

Effective Date

02/26/2021

Topics

Non-disclosure; Attorney_fees; Costs; Equitable_relief; Fines; Punitive_damages; Restitution; Covid; Notice; Test; Contact_tracking; Notice; Policy_permitted; Emergency; Medical; Close_contact; Quarantine; Retaliation; Whistleblower; unemployment; workers_comp; PPE; Person_protect_equip


January

Emergency Declaration Resolution

Bill

Resolution 6

Summary

Requires employers to adopt and implement certain social distancing policies; prohibits retaliation against an employee who refuses to work with or serve an individual who refuses to comply those policies; prohibits retaliation against employees for other reasons.

Enacted

01/05/2021

Effective Date

Topics

Covid

Employment Law Updates
Laws change in a moment. Sign up to stay informed.
Employment Law Updates
Laws change in a moment. Sign up to stay informed.

Have employees in more than one state? SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Have employees in more than one state? SUBSCRIBE HERE!