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Biden Issues an Executive Order Related to COVID-19 and Worker Safety

Posted on January 25, 2021 by and

On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order (“Order”) which directs the Secretary of Labor, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to: Issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic within two weeks of the Order; Consider whether an emergency temporary standard on COVID-19, including whether masks […]

CDC Issues Vaccine Toolkit for Employers!

Posted on January 21, 2021 by , and

Today the CDC issued its “COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Essential Workers: Getting Started”, which includes posters, FAQs, and templates to use when communicating with your workforce about the vaccine.  In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ webpage on the vaccine has a great deal of information specific to our state. As always, as you […]

Emergency Use Authorization Vaccines – A Caution to Employers

Posted on January 4, 2021 by and

Happy New Year!  As we move into 2021, we know that many of you are considering whether to require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination.  The current COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) from the Food and Drug Administration.  The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) governs the conditions of emergency use […]

Lower Gasoline Prices Means Decrease in Optional Standard Mileage Rates for 2021 Wage Base

Posted on December 23, 2020 by

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2021, and the decrease in rates reflect the decrease in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle.  Effective January 1, 2021, the optional standard mileage rates […]

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Borrowers Will Find Deductions Under the Tree This Holiday Season

Posted on December 22, 2020 by and

On the evening of December 21, 2020 the House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), a 5,593 page bill that funds the federal government for the next fiscal year and provides long anticipated COVID-19 pandemic relief to individuals and businesses.  President Trump is expected to sign the legislation shortly. It is […]

FFCRA Not Mandated in 2021, But Optional!

Posted on December 22, 2020 by and

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which President Trump is expected to sign.  The Act does not extend the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”).  The FFCRA mandated leave is still set to expire on December 31, 2020. In 2021, covered employers (less than 500 employees) can choose to continue […]

Breaking News! EEOC Issues Vaccine Guidance

Posted on December 16, 2020 by and

Today the EEOC updated its guidance surrounding COVID-19 and vaccinations in the publication titled “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.” In its most recent update, the EEOC has added questions and answers to help employers navigate the new COVID-19 vaccine. The questions are added as a new section, Section K. Vaccinations, and include […]

New Guidance on COVID-19 Quarantine Duration

Posted on December 7, 2020 by

On December 2, the CDC updated its guidance for quarantining after exposure to COVID-19. The CDC still recommends a 14-day quarantine as the safest option, however, it has provided two acceptable alternatives to shorten the quarantine period depending on local circumstances and resources. Quarantine can end after 10 days without testing if no symptoms have […]

OSHA Citing for COVID-19 Infractions in the Workplace

Posted on November 30, 2020 by

As Autumn began to descend upon us, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) demonstrated that it will indeed use the General Duty Clause (GDC) to cite employers for health and safety conditions related to COVID-19.  This is a good time to revisit employers’ obligations under the GDC and how a lack of compliance can […]

IRS Re-Affirms PPP Expenses are Not Tax Deductible

Posted on November 19, 2020 by and

Through the release of a Revenue Ruling and a Revenue Procedure, the IRS re-affirmed its stance that taxpayers may not deduct payments for otherwise deductible business expenses (i.e., payroll, rent, covered utility payments, etc.) if those payments are made using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and the company “reasonably expects” to have their PPP loan […]