Workplace class action settlements hit new highs in 2021 - January 4, 2022 Executive Leadership Briefing

The U.S. reported a record 1,082,549 new coronavirus cases on Monday, as the highly infectious omicron variant continues to spread like wildfire throughout the country. The heavily mutated variant drove the record surge, which broke the U.S. case record by almost double last week’s record of 590,000, staggeringly more than any country has ever reported. Hospitalizations are up 41% in the past two weeks but remain below the pandemic peak.
Omicron Cases Are Hitting Highs, But New Data Put End in Sight - Bloomberg
Free at-home COVID-19 tests: When will they be here? - CNET
@jburnmurdoch: With a variant that spreads so far and so fast, the Omicron wave more than any other will be exceptionally good at seeking out the last few unprotected people, so even a small difference in the immunonaive share of the population could make a big difference to ICU pressure
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a third booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for children ages 12 to 15 in addition to narrowing the interval for booster shot eligibility to five months from six. The approval comes as many schools scheduled to return after the holiday break decided to delay this week’s in-person learning following record COVID-19 case levels fueled by the omicron variant.
‘Insurmountable’: Parents Grapple With Omicron’s Upending Force in Schools - The New York Times
@AliBaumanTV: Students are going back to school this week but many families are struggling to find a COVID test after the holidays, and then have to wait days for the results. @CBSNewYork
@charlielangton: #NEW Detroit Public Schools @Detroitk12 will be virtual starting this week and continuing until at least January 14 due to 40% #Covid_19 infection levels. @WWJ950 @FOX2News #Detroit #schools #Infection
Starbucks announced its 220,000 U.S. workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing starting Feb. 9 to comply with the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate going into effect next week. Employees who choose to undergo weekly testing will be responsible for acquiring their own federally approved tests and submitting results.
The Supreme Court has upheld state and local vaccine mandates. That may not save Biden's. - CNN
Judge grants relief to Navy SEALs who refused coronavirus vaccine, sued Biden administration - The Washington Post
U.S. job openings are expected to have ended 2021 at a record high in a labor market where the gap between available positions and workers continues to widen. There were roughly 12 million job openings at the end of December, according to estimates, marking a 1 million increase in openings since the end of October. As the Great Resignations continues to affect the labor market, employers are gearing up to boost spending on pay in 2022, with companies setting aside an average 3.9% of total payroll for wage increases in 2022, the largest increase since 2008.
Quitting is just half the story: the truth behind the ‘Great Resignation’ - The Guardian
The flip side of the ‘great resignation’ — a small-business boom - NBC News
Mapped: States are raising minimum wage - Axios
Workplace class action settlements set a new record of $3.62 billion in 2021 compared to $1.58 billion in 2020 and $1.34 billion the year before that, according to Seyfarth Shaw’s Workplace Class Action Litigation Report. The report noted that based on volume and statistical numbers, workers scored the most success in securing certification of wage and hour class actions when compared to other areas of workplace law. The report predicts 2022 litigation trends will continue to be affected by COVID-19 in addition to an increase in government enforcement litigation.
Morgan Stanley settles personal data breach lawsuit for $60 million - The Washington Post
Riot Games will pay $100 million to settle discrimination lawsuit - The Verge
"Quitting is just half the story: the truth behind the ‘Great Resignation’" - The