Rob, Scott, and Jason discuss legal updates from across the country for July 1st, including: hands-free driving laws, updated overtime rules in Washington, minimum wage increases across multiple states and municipalities, the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance with predictive scheduling, and more.
Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com
Employment expert Rob Wilson shares top tips for leveraging Paycheck Protection Program
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the national economy, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) provides employers with updated options for managing their loans. However, it’s important to know the best way to leverage these options and protect your company during this time of upheaval.
“Under changes to the PPPFA signed on June 5, employers will now be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the amount the borrower spent on rent, utilities, and mortgages during the 8-week or 24-week covered period or alternative covered period,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and human resources expert. “Up to 40% of payroll costs can also be covered under these loan terms.”
What is considered a covered payroll cost under the guidelines of the PPPFA?
“Payroll costs can include salary, wages, commissions, or similar compensation, sick leave or medical leave, group insurance, retirement benefits, and cash tips among other possibilities,” says Wilson. “But there are a few exceptions like compensation of an employee whose residence is out the United States.”
Join Employco USA to learn about the LATEST UPDATES to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) following the enactment of the Flexibility Act and revised forgiveness applications.
During this FREE webinar, we’ll:
You’ll also be able to get some clarity on human resource issues including unemployment and payroll. Employco provides HR and payroll solutions to businesses across the country.
There will be a brief presentation to begin the session, but most of the time will be dedicated to answering your specific questions!
FREE REGISTRATION
You’ll be able to join us at 11:00am CT on Friday, June 26th from your computer, tablet, or smartphone (you can also dial-in):
You can also use our registration form to submit questions you’d like to see answered/covered during the webinar.
Rob, Scott, and Jason discuss reopening the workplace; from performing a building walkthrough to identifying hazards and how to address them, optimizing your HVAC filtration system, following CDC recommendations, conducting an employee survey, limiting staff back at one time, having a plan in place if someone shows symptoms, and more.
Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com
BULLETIN
June 18, 2020 (UPDATE)
On June 16th, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department released a new set of forgiveness application forms and instructions to help borrowers navigate the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan program. The documents incorporate the changes made through the PPP Flexibility Act passed on June 5th.
Revised PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions:
EZ PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions:
The EZ form can be used if the borrower:
Employment trends expert discusses crucial ruling & what employers need to know
Just in time for Pride Month, the Supreme Court has made the landmark decision to extend new protections to LGBTQIA workers. Today, the Supreme Court made changes to federal civil rights law to include additional protections to gay, lesbian and transgender workers, providing pushback to previous attempts that sought to limit the scope of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
“The Supreme Court ruling is being celebrated as an important step in creating a more supportive and safer workplace for millions of LGBT Americans,” says Rob Wilson, employment expert and President of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm with locations across the country.
Wilson says the new ruling is important as previous research has shown many employers have both implicit and explicit bias against transgender workers.
“A recent survey led by the DC Office of Human Rights found that 48 percent of employers showed bias against hiring a transgender individual, even if the applicant was more highly qualified than others. And, nearly 90% of transgender individuals report workplace harassment, says Wilson. “And other research has shown that employers and coworkers can be hostile towards gay or lesbian workers.”
Employment expert shares crucial advice on reopening and what employers must do to protect themselves, their staff, and their clients
If your reopening is consistent with applicable state and local orders, you might assume that you can flip your ‘closed’ sign around and start embracing our new normal.
However, employment expert Rob Wilson says that employers need to consider more than just state/local guidelines before reopening.
“From putting recommended health and safety actions in place to implementing ongoing monitoring, getting back to work is going to look very different than before, and it’s going to require many workplace modifications,” says Wilson, who has helped guide numerous clients in their reopening procedures.
BULLETIN
June 05, 2020 (UPDATE)
Earlier today, President Donald Trump signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act of 2020, which provides borrowers with greater flexibility in spending PPP funds without compromising forgiveness eligibility.
The act, which passed with a bipartisan vote, makes the following amendments to the PPP to provide relief to borrowers:
Employment trends expert Rob Wilson shares exclusive advice on PPP and what employers must know
Last week the House passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act by 417-1, with the aim of easing strain on small business owners who are being crushed by the coronavirus pandemic and work stoppage.
“The House made important modifications to PPP which really lightened the burden on small businesses,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “They reduced the percentage of the loan which must be spent on payroll down to 60%, which ensures that employers can spend the funds on other necessary business expenses.”
Still, Wilson knows that this won’t be enough for many businesses.
BULLETIN
June 02, 2020 (UPDATE)
On Friday, May 29, 2020, Governor Pritzker signed an Executive Order that directs Illinois employers to follow the new Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Phase 3 guidelines as part of their reopening process. Although the wording of the order could be interpreted to require companies follow all of the guidelines, we are awaiting additional guidance to determine which aspects are required or recommended.
The guidelines are separated by industry. Click the following links to access each industry’s guidelines:
Summary of Key Minimum Guidelines for Offices to Reopen