In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, states have passed new laws and issued new regulations and guidance about employee leave taken for COVID-19 reasons. These provisions are in addition to the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, passed on March 18th as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

In general, employee leave permitted under new state COVID-19 rules and guidance varies with respect to factors like which employers and employees are covered by the leave, the length and purpose of the leave, whether the leave is compensated and at what rate, and whether the leave is provided under a new law or rule, or covered under an existing provision.

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With vaccines rolling out across the country and millions of Americans preparing for a post-COVID reality, research suggests that many people would rather continue working from home than returning to the office. A new ‘Return to Workplace Survey’ from Envoy has found that 66% of employees say that they fear for their health and safety, and nearly 48% say they would prefer a hybrid schedule in which they can continue to work from home a few days a week.

But is the desire to continue working virtually rooted in a fear of the virus or is it a preference for flexibility and the ease of working at home?

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Yes, employers are generally allowed to ask workers if they have been vaccinated. Companies are often times interested in employees’ vaccination status because it sheds light on return to work and social distancing planning, customer and co-worker safety, and possible employer-provided incentives for employees to get vaccinated.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has provided guidance indicating that not only can employers ask about vaccination status, employers can also ask for proof.

In situations where the employer is asking for employees’ vaccination status, we recommend the following:

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On Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its enforcement and litigation data from the 2020 fiscal year. The agency resolved 70,804 charges in 2020 and secured $439.2 million for victims of employment discrimination. Among their efforts, EEOC employees fielded over 470,000 phone calls and responded to more than 187,000 field office inquiries, including 122,775 online submissions.

According to the EEOC, the following are the top 10 reasons for workplace discrimination claims in fiscal year 2020:

1. Retaliation—37,632 (55.8% of all charges filed)
2. Disability—24,324 (36.1%)
3. Race—22,064 (32.7%)
4. Sex—21,398 (31.7%)
5. Age—14,183 (21.0%)
6. National Origin—6,377 (9.5%)
7. Color—3,562 (5.3%)
8. Religion—2,404 (3.6%)
9. Equal Pay Act—980 (1.5%)
10. Genetic Information—440 (0.7%)

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging for months. In that time, many businesses have ceased operations out of safety concerns and have waited for the right opportunity to resume. Now, with COVID-19 vaccines becoming available, employers can finally start planning for their immediate futures.

There are still many unknowns related to the COVID-19 vaccines, but there is at least one agreed-upon factor: Vaccinating employees is the best way to reopen a business safely. However, while it may be the best tool in the arsenal, it is not the only one. Employers will still need to continue using safeguards such as masks and social distancing to ensure the safety of their workers and customers.

New Toolkit: With that in mind, we recently released an HR Toolkit that explores the COVID-19 vaccines and other workplace safeguards, and helps employers decide whether a vaccination policy is right for their organizations. Included at the end is a robust appendix with printable resources that employers can use right now, including policies, communications and more.  Click the following link to read or download the HR toolkit on Returning Workforces and COVID-19 Vaccines.

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Attracting and retaining talent is often a top priority for employers across the country. Given the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the job market, one might imagine this task is easier than ever. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. While there may be more candidates than usual, attracting quality talent and retaining top performers still remains a struggle, worsened by COVID-19 and its effects on the workplace.

Provide Meaningful Benefits – The pandemic has affected everyone in significant, yet unique, ways. While all employees may be struggling in some way, their situations aren’t the same. Employers can help lift up their workers by offering meaningful employee benefits. Robust health care offerings may seem like an obvious one-size-fits-all solution, but sometimes voluntary benefits are actually what employees need. These include caregiving assistance, financial counseling, increased paid time off and other nontraditional perks. There are many low-cost options available and, better yet, employees can choose their benefits a la carte to meet their individual needs. New Video: Click the following link to view our recent HR chat on Employee Benefit Trends.

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We’re excited to announce a new Employco publication – HR Edge Quarterly Newsletter! The newsletter is designed to provide quick, easy-to-read articles that are pertinent to small and mid-size employers. In this inaugural issue, we look at the following topics:

• How HR Can Support Working Parents
• The Impact of Employer Branding
• Understanding Generation Z

Click the following link to view and download the HR Edge Quarterly Newsletter (Q1 2021).

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Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Section 6055 and Section 6056 for the 2020 calendar year is due in early 2021. Specifically, reporting entities must:

• File returns with the IRS by March 1, 2021, since Feb. 28, 2021, is a Sunday (or March 31, if filing electronically); and
• Furnish statements to individuals by March 2, 2021.

Originally, individual statements were due by Jan. 31, 2021. However, IRS Notice 2020-76 extended the furnishing deadline. Notice 2020-76 does not extend the due date for filing forms with the IRS for 2020. It also provides additional penalty relief related to furnishing forms to individuals under Section 6055.

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