The massive appropriations and COVID-19 relief legislation that President Donald Trump signed December 27, 2020, includes provisions that extend various supplemental employment benefits until March or April, depending on the program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, includes the Continued Assistance Act, which continues much of the relief originally provided in last year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief,Continue Reading
By David Slaughter, JD The massive appropriations and COVID-19 relief legislation that President Trump signed December 27, 2020, includes a number of provisions affecting employers’ health benefit programs. These include arbitration procedures for “surprise billing” situations, a new layer of transparency requirements, added flexibility for flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and disclosure rules regarding mental healthContinue Reading
While many workplaces are settling into a COVID-19 groove of social distancing, face masks, and hand sanitizer, we find ourselves on the cusp of flu season in the United States. Employers should start preparing now for what could be a difficult workplace winter. Common Flu Peaks Between December and February Although flu season is hardContinue Reading
Payroll Protection Program (PPP) portal resumes January 11, 2021 to accept applications for First Draw PPP Loans. Second Draw Loan applications are accepted January 13, until March 31, 2021. The Payroll Protection Program is a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their employees on payroll. Loans have 1% interest rate. Loans issued before JuneContinue Reading
As COVID-19 spreads around the globe, cybersecurity and data privacy risks are expanding for employers. Read on to learn some simple steps you can take to address and mitigate the dangers. 2 Key Areas of Opportunity for Cyberthieves Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the pandemic in two ways: First, they’re launching phishing campaigns to lureContinue Reading
by Jennifer Sims If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 2,020 times: “That’s 2020 for you!” The past year has certainly taught us to expect the unexpected. After all, when is the last time employers encountered a nationwide pandemic, mass economic shutdowns, and a hotly contested presidential election, much less all in the sameContinue Reading
We all have high hopes for 2021 after reeling through the quagmire of 2020. How will 2020 shape the workplace of 2021? Here are some top trends from the experts at Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Benchmark One. Changing workplace One thing the experts agree on is that in the post-COVID-19 world, the workplace will never beContinue Reading
The U.S. Congress passed a $892 billion COVID-19 relief act December 21, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. President Trump reluctantly signed the bill into law Sunday, December 27, 2020, demanding Congress increase stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 per individual. The House passed the stimulus increase to $2,000 per individual. The bill heads to theContinue Reading
The more questions to which you answer “yes,” the more complete your policy is regarding vacations and holidays. General Do you have a policy: Regarding vacation days? Regarding holidays? Are these policies in writing? Do you have a system for tracking when vacation days and holidays are used? Do you use a computer system forContinue Reading
Two things are eminently clear as the 2020 election season ramps up: (1) Everyone has an opinion, and (2) they aren’t shy about sharing it. So, what’s an employer to do when an employee likes or shares an inflammatory article on Facebook or uses his 280 characters on Twitter to start a battle with aContinue Reading
European countries like France and Germany are reinstating lockdowns amidst the second wave of Coronavirus. Here in the United States, Texas continues on the path to reopen its economy. One of the latest measures comes from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reinstating the state work search requirements effective November 1, 2020. Work search is aContinue Reading
Most companies are receiving employee benefit renewals. In order to avoid benefits communication errors, it is wise to periodically review communications that employees have received in the past to gauge their perception and understanding. Ask yourself the following questions: Were these communications meant only to fulfill ERISA compliance regulations, and do they comply with currentContinue Reading
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