COVID-19 Updates

DOL Clarifies One-Year Limitation on COVID-19 Deadline Extensions: New Notices May Be Required

2023-04-17T11:23:42-04:00March 1st, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News|

In EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a critical interpretation of prior guidance that extended certain deadlines for employee benefit plans, participants, and beneficiaries due to COVID-19. In coordination with other agencies, the DOL [...]

COVID-19: Coping with Pandemic Fatigue

2023-04-17T11:23:43-04:00February 18th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Wellness|

Over these past months, you may have found yourself thinking or saying, “I am so over this pandemic.” If you have, your feelings, thoughts, and stretched-to-the-limit tolerance level are understandably normal. Understanding COVID Fatigue Although COVID or pandemic fatigue [...]

Wisconsin Lawmakers Approve Waiving Businesses’ Taxes On COVID-19 Aid

2023-04-17T11:23:44-04:00February 17th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Labor News, Legislative News, SBA Stimulus Programs, WIsconsin News|

Thousands of businesses across Wisconsin wouldn't be taxed for coronavirus aid under a plan approved Tuesday by state lawmakers. Under the bill, Wisconsin businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans last year as part of federal coronavirus relief wouldn't have to pay [...]

Water is Drinkable PPE: Are You Protecting Your Workers from the Inside Out?

2023-04-17T11:25:19-04:00February 11th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Safety Tips, Workers Compensation|

This piece was published in Occupational Health and Safety and we wanted to share it with you. Hard hats, harnesses, face shields, goggles, hearing protection, respiratory gear—you make all the right moves when it comes to protecting your employees [...]

The Impact of COVID-19 on Paid Leave

2023-04-17T11:25:21-04:00January 21st, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News|

Paid time off (PTO) is one of the employee benefits that employees value most. The pandemic, however, upset many employees’ PTO plans due to travel restrictions and the cancellation of trips and family gatherings. It has also raised numerous [...]

SBA Extends EIDL Loan Application Deadline Through End of 2021

2023-04-17T11:25:24-04:00January 8th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Legislative News, SBA Stimulus Programs|

The Small Business Administration (SBA)has announced the extension of the deadline for businesses to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to December 31, 2021. The new deadline extension for the second round of EIDL funding comes after the [...]

IRS Acknowledges Congressional Reversal on Deducting Eligible PPP Expenses

2023-04-17T11:25:25-04:00January 6th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Legislative News, Paycheck Protection Program|

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service will allow businesses that got their Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven to write off expenses paid for with that money, shifting policy after Congress passed new legislation last month. IRS guidance issued on Wednesday overrides [...]

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker Signs New Health Care Law Safeguarding Telehealth Coverage

2023-04-17T11:25:26-04:00January 4th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Legislative News, Massachusetts News|

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has signed into law a telehealth bill that mandates permanent payment parity for telehealth services and established parity for primary care and chronic care management for the next two years. After signing the bill on [...]

Legislative Update: Highlights of the New Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

2023-04-17T11:25:53-04:00December 29th, 2020|2020, COVID-19 Updates, Labor News, Legislative News, Paycheck Protection Program, SBA Stimulus Programs|

President Donald Trump has signed into law a new $900 billion coronavirus relief and stimulus package. Among its provisions: An extension of last spring’s Paycheck Protection Program, allowing another $284 billion or so in forgivable, federally backed loans for [...]

Five Great Benefits of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

2023-04-17T11:26:29-04:00November 23rd, 2020|2020, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Benefits|

Much of the automotive, roads, and fuel industry has been deemed "essential" in 2020. Many of these essential workers have experienced high levels of stress and uncertainty, as well as put their health at risk by going to work.  [...]