On May 4, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service released much-anticipated guidance related to implementing the retirement plan aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) enacted on March 27, 2020, see our article here. Although the questions and answers fall short of resolving all open questions, they provide helpful insight
Practice Areas
OSHA Offers Carryout Guidance for Restaurateurs
With many restaurants limited to offering food and beverage carryout and curbside pickup options because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published guidelines suggesting best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
To prevent exposures with customers, OSHA recommends that food and beverage vendors:
- Avoid direct hand-offs when possible;
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SBA, Treasury Clarify Treatment Of Foreign Affiliates Under PPP Eligibility Criteria
In our post of April 4, we advised there was an ambiguity between the CARES Act and subsequent guidance issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) on whether employees of foreign affiliates of applicants are considered when determining eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Applicants in the SBA’s Business Loan Programs (which includes…
USCIS Issues Updated M-274, Handbook for Employers on Completing Form I-9
The updated M-274, Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9, from USCIS offers some interesting substantive clarifications and developments.
Changes to match the most recent Form I-9 revisions include:
- Section 2.0 clarifies that any person can serve as an authorized representative of the employer to complete, update, or make corrections to Section 2
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Reopenings in COVID-19 Era and Employee Disability, Leave Litigation
The flurry of federal, state, and local laws hastily passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the workplace in ways employers have not seen before. Now, as employers seek to reopen their businesses, in-house counsel and Human Resources professionals tasked with navigating these uncharted waters should bear in mind which decisions could give…
New Model COBRA Notices and Emergency Extensions to COBRA Deadlines Require Employers to Take Action
The Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal regulators released updates and clarifications related to employee benefits, including updates to model COBRA notices and an extension of certain statutory deadlines intended to minimize the possibility of participants and beneficiaries losing benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article highlights the DOL’s recent changes and updates relating…
OSHA and CDC Issue Interim Guidance on COVID-19 for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers
Meat processing and packing facilities around the United States have emerged as hotspots for COVID-19. While handling and processing meat and poultry does not expose workers to coronavirus, close contact with coworkers and supervisors may contribute to their potential exposures. A number of facilities have had to temporarily close down operations due to outbreaks of…
Too Good to Be True? Treasury, SBA Limit Benefits of PPP Loans
Guidance issued by the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration (SBA), the federal agency that administers the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), demonstrates that the PPP loans, as originally thought, were too good to be true.
PPP was established by section 1102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law…
NCAA Announces Response to Expanding State Name, Image, and Likeness Legislation with Proposed Changes to Bylaws
Following the cancelation of the winter sports championships and the calendar of spring athletic events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA is hoping to reset for the 2020-2021 academic year with a full slate of college football and other fall sports in September. While the NCAA and its members have been focused on student-athlete…
USCIS Seeks to Re-Open Offices for In-Person Services in June
Due to COVID-19, USCIS field offices have been closed for in-person services since March 18, 2020. The closure will continue until on or about June 4, 2020 when USCIS hopes to re-open to the public. In preparation for re-opening:
- USCIS will send notices to applicants and petitioners with naturalization ceremonies or scheduled appointments that
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