Last week we notified you about the new Massachusetts COVID sick leave law that we believed took effect on June 7 based on the text of the bill that was available on the state legislature’s website. At that time, the state [...]
Starting June 7, employers are required to provide paid COVID-19 sick leave to employees who can’t work because of COVID. COVID sick leave is in addition to other leaves the employer provides, whether required by law or provided as part of [...]
Employers that encourage or require workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus must carefully navigate legal requirements and government recommendations—but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently gave employers a break by saying they don't have to record [...]
New guidance from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is causing some to change their COVID-19 vaccine requirements. On April 20, OSHA released the new guidance in the frequently asked questions section of its website for COVID-19 safety compliance. The [...]
If you’re finding it difficult to hire employees, you’re not alone. Bloomberg reports that many small businesses are struggling to find people who currently want to work—in fact, 42% say they have jobs they can’t fill. The number of people quitting [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. People have experienced financial hardship, additional challenges with childcare and school cancellations, job loss, reduced hours, sickness, and grief. The future is uncertain, and the present is extra [...]
On April 7, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) published FAQs to further explain this COBRA subsidy and provided models of the required related notices. Notable Points from the FAQs Eligibility Based on Reduction in Hours. The FAQs take an expansive view [...]
As part of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”), certain COBRA eligible individuals are eligible for temporary premium subsidies April 1 to September 30, 2021. These subsidies will cover 100 percent of the premium for [...]
A bill to move the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application deadline from March 31 to May 31 won approval in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The final vote to approve the PPP Extension Act of 2021, H.R. [...]
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is the latest bill to address the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19, has been signed into law. Most aspects of the law do not directly affect the HR function, but those that [...]
