Who could have predicted the disruption and change 2020 brought to the way we work? Now that we are starting to look ahead, past the loss and the lockdowns, it is time to plan for what is next. One of the many considerations that needs to be addressed is employee retention and how to retain … Read more
On Jan. 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency declarations were ending on May 11, 2023. These declarations implemented measures to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on businesses and employees. As the end of these declarations approaches, employers must evaluate what changes will be made to … Read more
Discrimination against a person with caregiving responsibilities may be unlawful under federal employment discrimination laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). New guidance was released earlier this week to help employers further understand the policies as it relates to COVID-19 circumstances. As the pandemic evolves, the challenge of juggling work and caregiving obligations remains. … Read more
The workplace of the future is no longer abstract. It is a reality, but a reality that is different for each business. Every workplace has changed since March 2020, although no two have changed in exactly the same way. However, there is one common theme: Most companies now rely more on technology to increase workplace … Read more
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has updated its guidance on workplace COVID-19 vaccine policies. The agency’s original guidance, issued in December 2020, addressed COVID-19 vaccine mandates, discussing COVID-19 diagnosis or vaccination status with employees, and handling reasonable accommodation requests from employees. The EEOC’s updated guidance clarifies whether employers can mandate COVID-19 vaccinations and offer incentives … Read more
The Treasury Department and the IRS have issued Notice 2021-53, which provides guidance to employers about using Form W-2 to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees for leave taken in 2021. This is welcome news for many taxpayers, as this guidance covers the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as … Read more
COVID-19 and its variants continue to disrupt the way we live, work and play. The population disagrees on whether to wear masks or be vaccinated, and businesses struggle to attract workers. At the same time, we all are trying to move toward a new definition of normal. Some clear guidance One of the most pressing … Read more
As workplaces resume in-person operations, or at least consider doing so, there are many questions about the rules and requirements. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published a lengthy Q&A to help make sure everyone knows how to proceed. Managers and employees may want to review the entire document, but can get started with some of … Read more
Even before the pandemic, the Small Business Administration offered Economic Injury Disaster Loans for “losses not covered by insurance or funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for both personal and business” expenses and for “business operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.” The SBA has also been offering … Read more
Small and midsize employers, and certain governmental employers, can claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees due to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. These credits are available to eligible employers that pay sick and … Read more
