Biden declares the pandemic is over
- President Joe Biden stated that the pandemic is over, but the country still has a “problem” with COVID. “We’re still doing a lot of work on it,” he told CBS’ 60 Minutes.
- Biden made the remarks about a month and a half away from the midterm elections.
- The U.S. government still designates Covid-19 as a Public Health Emergency and the World Health Organization contends it remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- Reported deaths from Covid-19 this month were the lowest since March 2020.
OSHA had an influx of heat-related complaints over the summer
- Hundreds of workers filed heat-related complaints over the summer.
- Nearly one-quarter of the complaints came from restaurant workers who described unsafe conditions including indoor temperatures well above 100 degrees.
- Oregon OSHA received 269 heat-related complaints from June through August.
- OSHA instituted a new rule requiring access to water, shade and breaks for workers when temperatures reach 80 degrees.
Changes to the severe weather enforcement program
- OSHA is expanding the criteria for its Severe Violator Enforcement Program to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance with workplace safety standards and reduce worker injuries and illnesses.
- Previously, an employer could be in the program for failing to meet a limited number of standards.
- The changes will broaden the program’s scope with the possibility that additional industries will fall within its parameters.
- The Severe Violator Enforcement Program has focused on enforcement and inspection resources on employers who violate federal health and safety laws or demonstrate a refusal to correct previous violations.
Wells Fargo to pay $145M fine
- Wells Fargo has agreed to pay roughly $145 million to settle a U.S. Department of Labor Department investigation into allegations that a 401(k) plan for bank employees overpaid for the firm’s preferred stock.
- Wells Fargo and GreatBanc Trust Co., a trustee of the 401(k) plan, caused the plan to pay between $1,033 and $1,090 per share for Wells Fargo’s preferred stock rather than a set value of $1,000.
- Wells Fargo will pay $131.8 million the bank will pay out to reimburse eligible current and former 401(k) plan participants, as well as a $13.2 million penalty to the Labor Department.
- Wells Fargo neither admitted nor denied the allegations.