In the aftermath of the Astroworld music festival gone wrong, event organizers are reconsidering the safety risks at large events. Live Nation and other organizers of the Houston festival are facing numerous lawsuits based on injuries and deaths caused by the failure to host the concert safely. Organizers’ awareness of the risks presented at the event and failure to comply with industry safety standards will likely have a detrimental effect on the pending litigation. Here are a few takeaways for employers.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new guidance about religious objections to workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements on October 25, 2021. While the information doesn’t substantially alter any previously issued guidelines, the agency has begun to address many practical concerns employers are facing when it comes to implementing the mandates and legally processing employees’ religious accommodation requests.

As fall settles in, it's time to think about the upcoming holiday season. But the continuing pandemic makes it hard to plan. Will it be safe to party in person this year? Is it OK for vaccinated coworkers to gather for food, drink, and other merriment? Perhaps an alternative activity such as the Zoom parties some organizations threw last year are more appropriate. Or maybe a nice gift basket delivered to employees' homes would be a better option.