NOLA SHRM News and Announcements
April 17, 2020 Update from Michael Hecht at GNO Inc.
News
Information
Resources
Are you looking for:
As always, general information is on the GNO, Inc. Coronavirus Business Resource Page.
Please feel free to contact me mhecht@gnoinc.org or VP Policy Ileana Ledet at iledet@gnoinc.org with any questions or suggestions.
Take care,
Michael
--
Michael Hecht
President & CEO
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
1100 Poydras Street, Ste. 3475
New Orleans, LA 70130
mhecht@gnoinc.org
www.gnoinc.org
@MHechtGNO
504.527.6907
The FFCRA requires employers to provide paid leave through two separate provisions: (i) the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), which entitles workers to up to 80 hours of paid sick time when they are unable to work for certain reasons related to COVID-19, and (ii) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (Expanded FMLA), which entitles workers to certain paid family and medical leave. The FFCRA provides that employers subject to the EPSLA and the Expanded FMLA paid leave requirements are entitled to fully refundable tax credits to cover the cost of the leave required to be paid for these periods of time during which employees are unable to work (which for purposes of these rules, includes telework). Certain self-employed persons in similar circumstances are entitled to similar credits.
The following section provides an overview of FFCRA’s refundable tax credit provisions, and the FAQs that follow provide more detailed information regarding the requirements, limitations, and application of the paid leave credits. The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL) administers the EPSLA and the Expanded FMLA and has posted FAQs and relevant information about the paid leave requirements at the Department of Labor's Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers.
Eligible Employers are entitled to refundable tax credits for qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages (collectively “qualified leave wages”), under sections 7001 and 7003 of the FFCRA respectively. These tax credits are increased by the qualified health plan expenses allocable to, and the Eligible Employer’s share of Medicare tax on, the qualified leave wages. Eligible Employers are businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees that are required to provide paid sick leave under the EPSLA and to provide paid family leave under the Expanded FMLA (note that although the FFCRA requires most government employers to provide paid leave, it does not entitle those governmental employers to tax credits for this leave). For more information about Eligible Employers, see “What employers may claim the tax credits?” Under sections 7002 and 7004 of the FFCRA, self-employed individuals are entitled to equivalent credits based on similar circumstances in which the individual is unable to work. For more information about how self-employed individuals can claim the credits see “Specific Provisions Related to Self-Employed Individuals”. The refundable tax credits apply to qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages paid for certain periods when an employee is unable to work, as described below, during the period beginning April 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020. The same period is used to determine credits for qualified sick leave equivalent amounts and qualified family leave equivalent amounts for certain self-employed individuals.
The April 2020 issue of HR Professionals Magazine features Talent Management and Recruiting. Some key articles include "The Need for Business Continuity," by Dr.Kim LeFavor; "What Do People Need Now?" by Cammie Scott; Pandemics: "Plan But Don't Panic," by Stuart Jackson. Some excellent articles on talent management include "The Future of the Organization is Now," by Brad Federman; "Build Talent Bench Strength Now," by Dr. Trish Holliday; and "Boulo Uncovers a Hidden Workforce."
Link to HR Professionals Magazine
Event Invitation
NOLA SHRM is collaborating with the
New Orleans Regional Black Chamber!
NORBCC/NOLA SHRM/Transcendent Law Group Webinar
New Orleans Regional Black Chamber is always working to collaborate with other partners in service of our members. In collaboration with the New Orleans Society of Human Resource Management (NOLA SHRM) we will be hosting a Webinar session On April 7, 2020 from 11:30 – 12:30 PM. The Webinar will feature Michelle Craig, NORBC Member and Local Attorney from Transcendent Law Group and Perry Sholes – SPHR/SHRM SCP, a NORBC Board Member, President of NOLA SHRM and owner of Progressive HR Strategies, a Human Resources Consulting Company. Michelle and Perry will present up to date information and answer your questions:
Who should attend? Business Owners, HR Professionals or Person responsible for HR in small companies. If you have a specific question you would like to get to us in advance, please email perry@progressivehrstrategies.com.
Date:
April 7, 2020
Time:
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT
Click Here for More Information
Add to Calendar
Sorry, I'm not able to attend
Register Online
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News Release
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Helps Americans Overcome COVID-19 Workplace Challenges
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020.
FFCRA helps the United States combat the workplace effects of COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing employees with paid leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The law enables employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus. WHD administers the paid leave portions of the FFCRA.
Link to DOL - Temporary Rule NEW PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
As provided under the legislation, the U.S. Department of Labor will be issuing implementing regulations. Additionally, as warranted, the Department will continue to provide compliance assistance to employers and employees on their responsibilities and rights under the FFCRA.
“Paid sick leave” – means paid leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act.
“Expanded family and medical leave” – means paid leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act.
LINK To Department of Labor Q&A
SHRM has compiled a list of resources for COVID-19.
The safety of workplaces remains top of mind as we continue to manage through COVID-19. SHRM is your partner and guide through these unprecedented times, and you can access our regularly updated resources on SHRM.org.
Link to SHRM - COVID-19 Government Response and Resources
Press Release!
LWC announces additional deferral for 2020 first quarter unemployment wage and tax reports
BATON ROUGE – To further assist Louisiana employers during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) national emergency, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) announced today that the deadline for first quarter 2020 wage and tax reports will be deferred to June 30, 2020.
The LWC previously announced that it was granting Louisiana employers a temporary deferral from paying their first quarter 2020 unemployment taxes until June 30. The latest deferral now makes both the wage and tax reports and the 1Q 2020 unemployment tax payment due at the same time, rather than having an earlier deadline for wage and tax report submissions.
Full Press Release Below
Release - LWC announces additional deferral for 2020 first quarter unemp....pdf
COVID-19 - OSHA Standards
COVID19 and OSHA
The Wage and Hour Division provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
Here is a link with additional information from the DOL. If you scroll down to Posters, there are also links to the posters that employers should use.
Link to Full Article and Posters for Employers
Contact us:
nolashrm@nolashrm.org