COVID-19 Relief
2021
- COVID Stimulus Bill provides Free COBRA Coverage
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was signed into law by President Biden. The ARPA includes several significant health, pension funding, executive compensation and other…
- ARPA Includes Voluntary Extension and Expansion of FFCRA Paid Leave
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, includes a voluntary 6-month extension of the refundable tax credits available to employers for providing…
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act Paid Leave – Voluntary Extension Through March 31, 2021
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133), which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, includes provisions that allow employers to voluntarily extend their Families First Coronavirus…
- Employee Benefits Relief in the Year-End COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133) (the “Act”) was passed by both houses of Congress on December 21, 2020, and signed into law by the President on December 27, 2020. The Act is an…
2020
- DOL Issues Revised FFCRA Leave Regulations in Response to Court Decision
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today posted revisions to regulations that implemented the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families…
- DOL and IRS Extend Certain Timeframes for Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak
On May 4, 2020, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued joint guidance extending certain…
- DOL Issues FFCRA Guidance on Stay-At-Home Orders, Relationship Necessary to Support Caring Leave, and Caring for Children Over 18
The Department of Labor has issued more Q&As providing helpful guidance on issues under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave programs. We now have answers to the questions below. Our…
- Guide to Employer Tax Credits Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Webinar
ERISA Attorney Erwin Kratz of ERISA Benefits Law, PLLC discusses the steps private businesses with less than 500 Employees need to take to document and claim refundable tax credits that reimburse…
- IRS Q&As on COVID-19-Related Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave Provided by Small and Midsize Businesses
On March 31, 2020, the IRS issued 66 Q&As providing guidance regarding refundable tax credits available to reimburse employers with less than 500 employees small and midsize employers…
- DOL Guidance on Small Business Exemption from Emergency Paid Sick and FMLA Expansion Leave Requirements
The Department of Labor has issued some Q&A guidance explaining the limited circumstances under which an employer with fewer than 50 employees (i.e., a “small business”), can claim the exemption from…
- DOL Guidance on “Health Care Providers and Emergency Responders” Exemption from Emergency Paid Sick and FMLA Expansion Leave Requirements
The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued two Q&A’s providing more detail regarding the “health care provider” exemption from the requirements to provide paid sick leave or expanded family and…
- ERISA Benefits Law Model Paid Sick Leave and Expanded FMLA Leave Policies, Leave Request and Leave Determination Forms Available
ERISA Benefits Law’s model Paid Sick Leave and Expanded FMLA leave Policies, Leave Request and Leave Determination forms are now available. These documents include: An Emergency Paid Sick Leave And…
- IRS Guidance: Emergency Paid Sick and EFMLEA Leave Tax Credits Not Available Until April 1, 2020
For those of you who were not able to attend one of our recent webinars discussing the steps private businesses with less than 500 Employees need to take to implement the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act…
- Guide to Implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Webinar
ERISA Attorney Erwin Kratz of ERISA Benefits Law, PLLC discusses the steps private businesses with less than 500 Employees need to take to implement the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and…
- Department of Labor Guidance on Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Acts
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor today posted additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours…
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act Enacted – Impact on Employee Benefits
On March 18, 2020 the President signed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”, H.R. 6201, which passed the Senate that same day and the House on March 14. Among other provisions, the Act…
- Coronavirus Impact on Arizona Paid Sick Time; Vacation Pay; and WARN Act Compliance
This post addresses the paid sick time, vacation pay, and WARN Act issues that employers should keep in mind as the Coronavirus causes escalating business disruptions, including both voluntary and…