EEOC ISSUES COVID-19 VACCINATION GUIDANCE

On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance addressing questions from employers now that the vaccines are becoming available. Employers need guidance regarding whether or not they can require employees get the vaccine and what happens when employees refuse. According to the EEOC, employers may encourage or possibly require COVID-19 vaccinations, but policies must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other workplace laws. Read complete guidance (Vaccination guidance begins with Section K)

FEDERAL

TRUMP SIGNS COVID RELIEF BILL, AVERTING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed a $2.3 trillion omnibus/relief bill.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/trump-to-sign-covid-19-relief-bill-averting-shutdown-892096f7-2a16-440a-9065-e88498ff6277.html

FEDERAL COVID-19 TASK FORCE OFFERS GUIDELINES ON OPENING AMERICA

Download the Guidelines to Opening America Again

TRUMP SIGNS THE $2 TRILLION CARES ACT

On March 27, President Trump signed the CARES Act "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act" following a unanimous vote by the Senate. The CARES act includes public health aid to address COVID-19, cash relief for citizens, broad lending for small business and relief for impacted industries.

Review this summary of the CARES Act from the legal team at Steptoe & Johnson here.

Download: Understanding the $2 Trillion Stimulus Package

Read more about small business loans and reimbursements available for paid leave here in our March 27, 2020 blog post.

CARES Act Infographic- posted April 8, 2020

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Guide and Checklist

US Small Business Administration

SENATE PASSES FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) into law. The Act requires employers to provide paid leave for some employees related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, among other measures. The leave provisions of the Act take effect no later than 15 days after it is signed by the president.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Updated DOL FFCRA Regulation Overview- posted April 8, 2020

DOL Issues Correction to FFCRA Regulation- posted on April 13, 2020

DOL FAQ Summary- posted April 8, 2020

FFCRA Small Employer Exemption- posted April 8, 2020

DOL Clarification of Paid Leave Laws- posted March 31, 2020

Employee Compensation and Benefits During Closures and Furloughs

Summary of Tax Credits Available

DOL FAQ: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

DOL Paid Leave: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave

DOL Model Notice: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

EEOC PANDEMIC FAQ

On March 18, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how employers should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while also observing all applicable emergency workplace safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

The FAQs draw from the EEOC’s existing pandemic publication,  Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the ADA, to help employers navigate workplace issues related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). In particular, the EEOC’s FAQs include information from a section of the publication that answers employer questions about what to do after a pandemic has been declared. This HR Compliance Bulletin contains the EEOC’s FAQs.

Employers are subject to the ADA if they have 15 or more employees. Smaller employers may be subject to similar rules under applicable state or local laws.