For the first few months of 2020, we watched COVID-19 spreading in other countries as if it were some sort of science experiment that would never reach the U.S. Now, with reported cases in 50 states and confirmed community spread in numerous locations throughout the U.S., we frighteningly watch the numbers increase. But how do we deal with our fears? Is fear a reason not to come to work when your job simply does not otherwise allow you to work from home? It’s important for employers to be the voice of reason amidst the panic and not feel bad for doing so.
Business needs to be able to ...
On March 24, 2020, Governor Tony Evers issued Emergency Order #12 entitled “Safer At Home Order.” The Order goes into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020. Until then, all individuals present within the State of Wisconsin are ordered to stay at home and may only leave their homes for the following functions as defined in the Order: 1) Essential Activities; 2) Essential Governmental Functions; 3) to operate Essential Businesses and Operations; and 3) to perform non-essential Minimum Basic ...
Our blog previously reported on various state and local social distancing and shelter-in-place orders including California, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
The State of Missouri mandated social distancing and restrictions on social gatherings and closed all schools. The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County have each issued separate stay at home orders for residents and businesses. Below are brief summaries and links to the actual orders.
Missouri’s Social Distancing Order
Governor Parsons ordered “Social Distancing” across the entire Show-Me State and ...
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has become a direct lender to small businesses for emergency working capital needs due to the economic injuries that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing. Small for-profit and nonprofit businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan and specified counties that are contiguous to these states in Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kentucky (Covid-19 Disaster Areas) are eligible for these SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The application process is online through the SBA website.
Small businesses interested in such emergency funding can ...
On March 18, the president signed into law H.R. 6201. Division G of the law provides tax credits for businesses that compensate their employees for time off due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of the law is to help employees.
A tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction. For example, a $10 credit reduces tax by $10. But the value of a $10 deduction depends on the taxpayer’s tax rate. If that is 36%, the value of the deduction is $3.60.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPLANATION OF THE NEW LAW
On March 20, 2020, the Treasury Department, IRS and Department of Labor issued Release 2020-57 which ...
As we continue to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with potentially more drastic measures being imposed by health officials, the question becomes what is the impact on employers if a shelter-in-place order is issued. The answer: it depends on the order.
In response to the crisis, a number of states, counties and cities have imposed or are considering shelter-in-place orders. Generally, a shelter-in-place order means that individuals must stay in their residences and not leave “unless necessary for one of the designated exceptions.” The purpose of such ...
Earlier we reported on the issuance of “shelter-in-place” orders in California and Pennsylvania as well as a number of other communities. Effective March 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm CST and until April 7, 2020, Illinois will join the ranks and implement its own “Stay at Home” order. As we also noted earlier, “shelter-in-place” orders differ from one jurisdiction to another and some may be more restrictive. Illinois’ approach, however, is more permissive and gives businesses and individuals more latitude.
Pursuant to the Illinois order, all persons may leave their ...
With the ink barely dry on the president’s signature, employers are now turning to whether they need to and how to comply with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Act”) (HR 6201). Since the law was signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020, the leave provisions are set to go into place on April 2nd. The US Department of Labor (“DOL”) shall provide a sample notice for employers required to comply with the emergency paid sick leave provisions within seven (7) days, and we may see additional guidance from the DOL in the near future.
First, note that the paid leave ...
As we previously reported, on March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of some pushback from the “small business community” and other “special interests,” the House subsequently revised the original legislation and delivered it to the U.S. Senate on March 16, 2020. Today, March 18, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed a modified bill for the President’s signature. The mandates focus on three (3) primary ...
As you know by now, COVID-19 is changing things on a daily, if not hourly or minute by minute basis. In reviewing this advice, you must understand that guidance will change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. As such, employers MUST continue to get up to date information from public health authorities on maintaining workplace safety.
The CDC, EEOC and World Health Organization (WHO) each have their own guidance on addressing the workplace and employees under a pandemic situation:
Welcome to the Labor and Employment Law Update where attorneys from Amundsen Davis blog about management side labor and employment issues.
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