COVID-19 and the Workforce: October 1, 2021

COVID-19 and the Workforce: October 1, 2021

TOP HEADLINES 

Employers Struggle to Digest Biden’s Proposed Vaccine Mandate  
Business Insurance – September 14, 2021  
There are more questions than answers for employers bracing for President Joe Biden’s forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including who will be charged with enforcing rules and footing the bills, legal experts say. 

Weekly Jobless Claims Rise More Than Expected to 362,000 
CNBC – September 30, 2021 
Initial jobless claims climbed again last week, rising to 362,000, the Labor Department said Thursday, as hiring appeared to remain sluggish while the U.S. battles the delta variant. 

Clear Communication Is Key to Effective Return to Worksite 
SHRM – September 29, 2021 
Some employees have already returned to the worksite; others never left. But for those still planning their return, transparency, safety protocols and detailed expectations are important. 

What’s New from the CDC 
Keep up with all the latest information on COVID-19 directly from the resources created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

GLOBAL NEWS 

AUSTRALIA 
How Quickly Australia is Vaccinating: By State and Territory 
9News – September 30, 2021  
The nation’s reopening plan hinges on coronavirus vaccination rates of 70%, and then 80%, in each state or territory, with NSW revealing its roadmap out of lockdown this week. 

CANADA 
More than 80% of Eligible Canadians Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 
CTV News – September 28, 2021  
More than 80% of eligible Canadians over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

INDIA 
Quarter of India’s Adult Population Fully Vaccinated, Nearly 70% Got at Least 1 Dose 
NDTV – September 30, 2021 
The government said that 64% doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in vaccination centers in rural areas and 35% in urban areas. 

UNITED KINGDOM 
End of COVID-19 Jobs Program to Test UK Recovery 
The Wall Street Journal – September 30, 2021 
A UK experiment in preventing mass layoffs is coming to an end, in a test of how quickly economies can reabsorb workers idled by the pandemic and wean companies off government support. 

UNITED STATES 
U.S. COVID Recovery Spreads as Prospects Improve in 47 States 
Bloomberg – September 29, 2021 
The U.S. recovery from the latest COVID-19 wave is taking hold across the country, with cases dropping or poised to start falling in the vast majority of states. 

POLAND 
Poland’s New COVID Cases to Surpass 1,000 for the First Time Since May 
The First News – September 29, 2021 
The number of new daily coronavirus cases in Poland surpassed 1,000 for the first time since late May, as a fourth wave of the pandemic gathers pace amid low vaccination rates. 

Post by Jasmine Patel

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