22 Apr

Posted at 22:56h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

New IRS Form 7200 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Leave Tax Credit and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Employee Retention Tax Credit. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released IRS Form 7200 along with completion Instructions. Form 7200 may be used by an employer to request an advance payment of tax credits for […]

22 Apr

Posted at 20:53h in Compliance White Papers, COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

This table helps employers understand which leave benefits (if any) apply to employees in various coronavirus-related situations. The information in this table is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. It is meant to give a general picture of benefits available in certain COVID-19 work-related situations. Please note that this […]

17 Apr

Posted at 21:32h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (Departments) have provided answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding health coverage issues related to COVID-19, including implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

These new laws require health plans and issuers to cover certain items and services related to the diagnosis of COVID-19 without imposing any cost- sharing requirements (including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance) or prior authorization or other medical management requirements. According to the Departments’ FAQs, health plans and issuers must provide notice of the changes to plan participants as soon as reasonably practicable.

17 Apr

Posted at 21:28h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

Legal Update HeaderOn April 9, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-23 to extend key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This new tax relief is provided under Section 7508A of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), which gives the IRS authority to postpone deadlines for taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters.

17 Apr

Posted at 21:22h in COVID-19, Risk Management, Risk Management White Papers by . .

Due to complaints related to a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), insufficient training on appropriate standards and possible coronavirus illness (COVID-19) transmissions in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued temporary guidance for its area offices to use in their efforts to enforce the agency's workplace safety and health mandates. These mandates require employers to take prompt actions to mitigate hazards and protect employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

The new guidance, issued on April 13, 2020, directs OSHA compliance officers to process most complaints from non-healthcare and non-emergency response establishments as “non-formal” and to conduct investigations via phone or fax whenever possible. However, employers should know that after receiving a serious incident report, OSHA area directors will determine whether to conduct an inspection or a rapid response investigation (RRI). RRIs are intended to identify any hazards, provide abatement assistance and confirm abatement, and OSHA generally encourages area directors to recommend them. This Compliance Bulletin provides a summary of the enforcement guidance provisions that relate specifically to COVID-19 issues.