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Minnesota Most Recent to Issue Statewide Mask Order

Posted on July 23, 2020 by

Beginning on Friday, July, 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., face coverings must be worn in Minnesota by all persons at indoor businesses, indoor public settings, and by workers outside when social distancing practices cannot be followed. Businesses are required to update their COVID-19 Preparedness Plans to include this requirement, inform their workers of this update, […]

Agency Alert! DOL Announces New FMLA Forms and WI DWD Provides Unemployment Credit Instructions

Posted on July 20, 2020 by

Last week, the Department of Labor announced new Family Medical Leave Act forms were available on its website. (Note these forms are not applicable to the “Expanded FMLA” available under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act. Please don’t tell me you have no idea what I am talking about… ) The Department clarified, as with […]

IRS Issues New Guidance for Complying with Paid Sick and Family Leave Reporting Requirements

Posted on July 9, 2020 by and

Way back in March, as the pandemic began to set in, Congress quickly passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act) as part of a barrage of legislation aimed at providing relief to American workers.  The Act requires that companies with fewer than 500 employees offer expanded paid leave—80 hours of paid sick leave […]

Responding to the Pandemic, IRS Loosens Opportunity Zone Requirements

Posted on July 2, 2020 by

The IRS recently offered relief to Qualified Opportunity Fund investors, waiving a penalty and pushing back some investment deadlines. This new guidance comes as investment in opportunity zones slows, stymied by brisk coronavirus-related headwinds. A recent survey of investors conducted by the Economic Innovation Group, which helped design the program before it was tucked into […]

Don’t Let the Fear of Losing Your Home to Medicaid Contribute to Elder Abuse

Posted on July 1, 2020 by , and

As we reflect on the close of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, we wanted to share some information on this important issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines elder abuse as an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that […]

In re Hitz Restaurant Group: Coronavirus Shutdown Order Excuses Tenant’s Rent

Posted on June 30, 2020 by

Back in mid-March (which seems much longer than three months ago!), many governors issued stay-at-home orders, silencing the bustle of everyday activity. Restaurants and bars locked their doors, schools moved online, and weekend traffic on Wisconsin’s interstate highways decreased 60%. It was the equivalent, Paul Krugman wrote at the time, of a “medically induced coma, […]

The Fed Launches its Main Street Lending Program

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) $600 billion Main Street Lending Program recently launched the latest of several market interventions aimed at cushioning some of the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus. The program aims to provide loans to businesses that were doing well prior to the pandemic but are now struggling to fund operations and retain […]

IRS Provides More Retirement Plan and IRA Relief

Posted on June 24, 2020 by

Yesterday, the IRS issued additional guidance regarding two hot topics over the last six months: the waiver of the 2020 required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement plans and IRAs, and the change in the required beginning date for RMDs from age 70 ½ to age 72. Extension and Expansion of 60-Day Rollover for 2020 RMDs […]

SBA and Treasury Release Revisions to Interim Final Rules on Loan Forgiveness and Loan Review Procedures

Posted on June 24, 2020 by and

On Tuesday evening (June 22nd), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury released revisions to the interim final rule on forgiveness (issued May 22nd) and the interim final rule on loan review procedures (issued May 22nd).  The revisions can be found here and are intended to update the rules in light of […]

5 Ways the Coronavirus May Impact Long-Term Care Insurance

Posted on June 22, 2020 by , and

In Wisconsin, we are soon to reach 25,000 positive COVID-19 test results, over 3,200 hospitalizations, and close to 750 deaths attributed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. It is being recognized that the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the elderly, particularly those in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. […]