July 17, 2020 | FFCRA Update The IRS issued Notice 2020-54 to help employers properly report 2020 emergency paid sick leave and expanded family medical leave wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRAâ€). Employers with less than 500 employees who provided benefits under either leave program will need to…
July 13, 2020 | FFCRA Update With the summer season officially upon us, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (“the Departmentâ€) has issued Field Assistance Bulletin (“FABâ€) 2020-4 to clarify when benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRAâ€) may be available due to a summer camp or enrichment program being closed…
July 8, 2020 | Legal Update In a highly anticipated decision issued on June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act (Title VII) protects individuals against employment discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Title VII prohibits employers with 15 or more…
On June 23, 2020, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services (“HHSâ€) (collectively, “the Departmentsâ€) issued FAQ Part 43, which includes certain guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRAâ€) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Actâ€), as well as other COVID-19 health plan issues. …
Criminals prey on unfortunate circumstances, seeking to capitalize on victims during times of panic and hardship. Unfortunately, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is no exception. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told individuals to be vigilant about scams related to COVID-19. Cybercriminals have been known…
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused employers to make significant changes to their business practices, including onboarding. Managers and new hires across the country are navigating the unchartered waters of remote onboarding. The onboarding process—which is designed to cultivate a long-term relationship between the employer and the employee while fostering a feeling of…
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has interrupted many businesses across the country. While it’s unclear how long COVID-19 will continue to affect organizations, many employers are looking to the future of employees returning to work. Echoing public health officials’ sentiments, a return to normalcy won’t be like flipping a switch, but rather a continuous effort. In…
On April 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance for discontinuing home isolation following a COVID-19 diagnosis. The CDC also issued guidance for what essential workers should do following exposure to COVID-19. CDC Guidance for Discontinuing Isolation Following a COVID-19 Diagnosis The decision to discontinue isolation should be made…
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented changes for many industries. As social distancing is encouraged, gatherings with over ten people are banned, and stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders for all nonessential employees are issued. Many employers ask their employees to work from home. For some employees, working from home is business as usual.…
On June 11, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued more guidance concerning COVID-19 and return to work. This article compiles some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) from the new guidance. As a best practice, and in advance of having some or all employees return to the workplace, are there ways for…