California Covid Rule Could Ease Worker ‘Close Contact’ Mandates

The latest version of California’s proposed permanent Covid-19 worker protection rule eases some reporting requirements for employers and doesn’t reinstate a sick leave pay requirement labor advocates wanted but businesses fought because of expenses.

With the state’s temporary Covid rule set to expire at year’s end, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is working toward enacting a final rule by Dec. 31. At the same time, federal OSHA is developing its own Covid standard, also due by year’s end, that would apply only to health-care employers.

California’s independent Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is expected to ...