Payroll bill will make things easier for remote workforce: The Senate has introduced the Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act of 2020. The act would limit the authority of states or other taxing jurisdictions to tax wages and other remuneration from employment in other states or taxing jurisdictions. A similar bill was introduced in the U.S. House in 2020.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, more is being demanded from HR than possibly any other time in history. Virtually overnight, HR moved from a focus on recruiting and retaining scarce talent in a tight labor market to coping with massive layoffs, furloughs, budget constraints, remote work, and historic levels of employee anxiety. Seldom has HR’s job been more challenging.
Watch out for UIA scams: As many Michiganders are facing challenges in applying for and obtaining unemployment benefits, some are turning to social media seeking help or answers to questions.
Antibody tests cannot be required for return to work per EEOC: The EEOC provided a new FAQ regarding antibody testing.
I-9 COVID-19 flexibility requirements extended: In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This temporary guidance was set to expire June 18.
EEOC, NLRB, and ODEP nominations before the full Senate: The nominations of Keith Sonderling (R), Jocelyn Samuels (D), and Andrea Lucas (R) to fill two EEOC vacancies and succeed longtime Commissioner Victoria Lipnic, respectively, were sent up to the entire Senate for confirmation.
Michigan launches new portal for PPE: The Michigan Economic Development has launched a free Pure Michigan Business Connect COVID-19 Procurement Platform. The online service is available to employees in need of PPE gear as well as PPE suppliers.
FFRCA enforcement actions update: On May 12, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division separately announced a pair of settlements that provide employees with back pay to which they were entitled but were denied when their employers refused to give them the emergency paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons guaranteed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
I-9 physical inspection delayed an additional 30 days: On March 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This temporary guidance was set to expire May 19. Because of ongoing precautions related to COVID-19, DHS has extended this policy for an additional 30 days. Source: USCIS...
EEO delays reporting of 2019 EEO-1 reports until 2021: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will delay the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection and the 2020 EEO-3 and EEO-5 data collections because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019...
Once shelter in place is lifted, the $600 unemployment bonus is no longer in effect: Under the temporary regulations, an employee who is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 qualifies for the CARES Act $600 weekly bonus.
Pandemic raises the need for caregiving benefits: An AARP survey found there were about 41 million family caregivers in the U.S. in 2017, providing about 34 billion hours of unpaid care for other adults. The economic value of their efforts was estimated at $470 billion.
Michigan grants additional penalty waiver due to COVID-19: The Michigan Department of Treasury is waiving penalty and interest for the late payment or late filing of any sales and use tax or withholding tax return (including the quarterly return) due April 20, 2020. Any payment or return originally due April 20, 2020 may be submitted by May 20, 2020.
New poster from OSHA outlines COVID-19 infection prevention measures: OSHA has issued a new poster outlining steps that all workplaces can take to reduce the risk of exposure to Coronavirus, including 10 infection prevention measures that every employer can implement to protect workers’ safety and health. Safety measures include:
IRS identifies dates for starting and ending tax credits: The IRS has announced that the employment tax credits for paid qualified sick leave and family leave wages required by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127)