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Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) draft guidelines for a 3-phased re-opening plan were released and published by national news media. Although rejected by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, given the often conflicting guidance coming from the White House, it is likely these guidelines would be viewed by some local and […]
Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued his newest COVID-19 related order – Proclamation 20-46: High Risk Employees – Workers’ Rights – protecting high risk employees (defined as older adults and people of any age who have certain chronic underlying health conditions) by requiring the following of all public and private employers in Washington State: Utilize all available […]
On April 9, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published a FAQ regarding the impact of COVID-19 on equal employment opportunity laws enforced by the agency, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Below are some highlights: For purposes of protecting the rest of the workforce, what information may employers ask […]
On April 2, the Secretary of Labor filed temporary regulations for the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Signed into law on March 18, FFCRA creates two new leave opportunities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSL) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act […]
On Friday April 4, 2020, the Small Business Association (SBA) issued guidance regarding the availability of the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act to faith-based organizations. That frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) sheet offers us some guidance and can be found here. The FAQ clarifies that religious entities […]
Notice 2020-20 (an update to Notice 2020-18) has now extended the due date for additional tax returns. Automatic Postponement of the Due Date for Filing Forms 709 and Making Payments of Federal Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax. The due date for filing Forms 709 (United States Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return) and making payments […]
The US Department of Labor (DOL) has provided additional information and guidance regarding the emergency leaves provided under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). The Q & A page that provides the guidance may be found at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions. The following are some highlights of the new guidance: The Emergency FMLA (EFMLA) is not in […]
The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides relief to those affected by the pandemic. This blog post will focus on the provisions solely affecting retirement plans. Hardship Distributions: The Act allows individuals affected by the virus to take early withdrawals of up to $100,000 from their retirement plans or IRAs, without incurring […]
The IRS has issued Notice 2020-18 expanding tax filing and tax payment relief for taxpayers due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Who qualifies? Any “person,” which includes an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation under IRC §7701(a)(1), with a federal income tax payment or a federal income tax return due on April 15, 2020, […]
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA” or “the Act”) requires covered employers to provide employees with notice of the provisions of the Act. The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided a model notice which may be found here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf Although the notice may be posted physically at the employer’s main office in a […]