This article originally ran on Tax Practice News. You can view it here.
It is no surprise that COVID-19 has impacted businesses across America in ways never seen before. Businesses have pivoted in response to the need to work from home for social distancing, which has forced many owners and managers to learn new skills associated with this short term working arrangement. In addition to the changes in where and how we work, the Department of Labor and state agencies have already instituted over 25 mandatory changes and issued a new REQUIRED POSTER under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for all public employers and private employers with up to 500 employees.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Poster meets the federal requirement that states all private employers with fewer than 500 employees, plus certain public employers, must display the new federal workplace posting from April 1, 2020 through December 31,2020. As an alternative, employers may satisfy the posting requirement by emailing or direct mailing the posting to all employees, or posting the notice on an employee information website.
The poster summarizes the new emergency paid sick leave law, which remains in effect until December 31, 2020, and explains the circumstances under which employees qualify for immediate paid sick leave due to the COVID-19 emergency. The new legislation states that covered employers must provide:
- 2 weeks (up to 80 hours or a part-time employee’s 2-week equivalent) of paid sick leave dependent on qualifying reasons for leave related to COVID-19.
- Up to an additional 12 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave for employees who are unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
For a limited time, you can purchase the COVID-19 poster and the 2020 Federal and State Poster service, which keeps you in compliance by delivering a new poster every time there is a change at the federal or state level, and receive a 20% discount on orders of $100 or more. Simply visit our partner at www.taxformsource.com and use the code TPN20 at checkout (code valid through July 1, 2020).
If you are not sure if you need the posters, just remember that we will be going back to work and some of your employees may be doing so begrudgingly, as has been reported in the general press. Ensure your business is protected and meeting the current labor law requirements by having these mandatory posters.