By Bello Welsh LLP The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires employers with fewer than 500 employees[1] to provide (1) up to 80 hours of paid sick leave to any employee who is unable to work for any of six enumerated reasons, and (2) up to twelve weeks of leave (of which ten weeks […]
By Bello Welsh LLP On April 10, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued enforcement guidance, limiting employers’ obligation to report employees’ COVID-19 illness. As we noted in our prior Employer Q&A (#17), ordinarily an illness is recordable if the illness is contracted as a result of the employee performing their work-related duties, […]
By Bello Welsh LLP The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Fair Labor Division, has updated its list of Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19, including an expanded response to the question of whether an employer that conducts a temporary layoff must pay final pay—including accrued vacation—at the start of the layoff (now numbered Question 3). The AG’s […]
By Bello Welsh LLP On April 4, 2020, the Department of Labor published Unemployment Insurance Guidance Letter (“UIPL”) 15-20, which includes implementing and operating instructions for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) Program provided for as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020. In short, the FPUC Program provides […]
By Bello Welsh LLP As described in detail in our prior Alert, the federal government signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to help workers impacted by the current COVID-19 health emergency. Under the FFCRA, employees of businesses of fewer than 500 employees may be eligible for paid sick leave or paid […]
By Bello Welsh LLP The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), enacted on March 18, 2020, creates two new emergency paid leave requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic: up to two weeks of paid sick leave and up to twelve weeks of expanded FMLA (e-FMLA) leave, ten of which are paid. Bello Welsh previously posted […]
By Bello Welsh LLP The IRS has issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions relevant to the tax credits available for payments made by employers to employees taking leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), enacted on March 18, 2020. Among other things, this guidance states that if an eligible employer that is […]
By Bello Welsh LLP The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed March 27, 2020, estimated at $2 trillion, includes billions of dollars in assistance to individuals and businesses of all sizes. The following describes highlights of the historic legislation relevant to most U.S. employers: Emergency EIDL Grants: The CARES Act adds fast […]
By Bello Welsh LLP In response to the COVID-19 emergency, the federal government has passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) which, among numerous other provisions, makes available forgivable loans for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.[1] Such loans may be used toward payroll costs, as well as covered mortgage, rent, […]
In response to the COVID-19 emergency, the federal government has passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) which includes provisions that significantly expand eligibility for unemployment benefits and increase available unemployment compensation. These changes are in addition to the recent changes made to the unemployment insurance program in Massachusetts, as […]