The manufacturer of a decontamination system used to decontaminate certain N95 respirators for health care personnel received a warning notice last week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for “failure to comply with regulatory requirements for medical device reporting.”

With the presidential election just weeks away, practice owners should understand their legal obligations to accommodate employees on election day. In California, employers are required to provide up to two hours of paid time off to employees who do not have enough time outside of work to vote. 

The American Dental Association has released a COVID-19 & Lab Testing Requirements Toolkit to aid dentists who are interested in incorporating rapid point-of-care testing in their practice. To assist members with California-specific requirements, CDA’s Clinical Care Workgroup will release additional POC testing guidance next month.

The Work Sharing program minimizes or eliminates the need for employers to lay off or furlough employees during periods when business demand is low. Under the program, employers can reduce hours and wages for individual employees, allowing those workers to receive partial unemployment benefits.

Several companies have vowed to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within their organizations over the last few months. These steps can help practice owners create a welcoming environment for employees of all backgrounds and keep staff engaged. 

Very small businesses, including dental practices with just five or more employees, will soon be subject to the California Family Rights Act’s requirement to provide protected unpaid family leave to their employees.

CDA Practice Support continues to publish frequently asked questions to help dentist-employers understand their obligations and options in the COVID environment. The newest FAQ answers questions about COVID-19 testing, exposure and reporting and employee paid leave. 

The payroll tax deferral plan gives employers the option to suspend the collection of Social Security payroll taxes through the end of the year. Here's what that means for practice owners. 

As people become more comfortable with traveling again, practice owners may be questioning the best way to maintain a safe work environment while managing employees who choose to travel. These tips can help employers establish a travel policy and develop a plan for how to reintegrate employees into the workplace following their travel.