On April 21, Philadelphia dropped the short-lived reinstatement of its mask requirement at businesses in the city. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.
'Decreasing Hospitalizations'
The Philadelphia Board of Health voted to rescind the requirement, according to the Philadelphia health department, which released a statement that cited "decreasing hospitalizations and a leveling of case counts." Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's health commissioner, told the board at a public meeting on April 21 that hospitalizations had unexpectedly gone down 25 percent in a matter of days.
(AP)
April 18 Enforcement Date Sunsets Fast
Philadelphia health inspectors had started enforcing the reinstated mask requirement at businesses in the city as of April 18, before the requirement was revoked. The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association had called the Philadelphia health department's reinstated requirement "deflating." Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations for the association, said in a statement, "Restaurant workers have suffered severe backlash when enforcing these rules in the past and, unfortunately, this time will be no different."
(SHRM Online) and (The Wall Street Journal)
Philadelphia Mass Transit's Move Influenced Decision
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the decision to rescind the requirement just days after it was reinstated was due partly to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA's) announcement on April 18 that masks would no longer be required on public transit.
Will Employers Face Mask Backlash After Public Transit Requirement Is Blocked?
A ruling against the Biden administration's COVID-19 mask requirement for public transportation may have little impact on most employers, as many of them already have adopted or abandoned their masking policies. Nonetheless, employers may face questions about masking during business travel, such as whether employees are still required to mask while on work-related flights.
DOJ Has Appealed Ruling
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced April 20 that it has appealed the ruling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had requested that the DOJ proceed with an appeal. The CDC stood behind the mask requirement on public transit when it called—prior to the ruling—for public transit users to wear masks until May 3 due to an uptick in cases from the BA.2 variant, a transmissible strain of the omicron variant.
An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.
Related Content
HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.
Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.