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Legal Update Header On June 11, 2021, the IRS released new FAQs about tax credits for eligible employers who voluntarily provide paid employee leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

The FFCRA paid sick and family leave requirements themselves expired Dec. 31, 2020, but subsequent legislation—most recently the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP)—extended and enhanced the tax credits available for employers that choose to provide FFCRA leave through Sept. 30, 2021.

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News Brief header A recent report by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that fatal traffic accidents increased 7.2% in 2020 from 2019, despite fewer drivers on the road.

According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes caused 38,680 deaths in 2020—the highest number of projected fatalities since 2007.

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Risk Insights header image Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have a lot to consider when it comes to operating their vehicles safely.

This is especially true during various seasons throughout the year—such as road construction season, which generally takes place from June through November. After all, road construction can create numerous hazards for CMV drivers, seeing as they must navigate the additional risks of driving through work zones. In fact, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an average of 700 work zone fatalities occur each year. What’s more, these incidents have increased by almost 9% in recent years. Work zones create increased hazards for drivers due to construction workers working close to moving traffic, dump trucks entering and exiting the construction area, flaggers redirecting traffic and lanes shifting unexpectedly.

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Legal Update Header On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).

The ETS was developed to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. The ETS is expected to become effective as soon as it is published in the Federal Register.

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Legal Update Header On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The guidance now focuses on protections for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk employees. OSHA’s update to the guidance reflects the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for fully vaccinated people. This guidance emphasizes industries noted for prolonged close-contacts like meat processing, manufacturing, seafood, grocery and high-volume retail.

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Legal Update Header The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a memorandum providing guidance on how it plans to enforce compliance with its electronic reporting rule for establishments that fail to submit electronic illness and injury records due to operational issues with the injury tracking application (ITA).

Enforcement Guidance

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OSHA issued its final rule on beryllium, which is a metal that can cause cancer and other health issues when inhaled or absorbed into the skin, on Jan. 9, 2017.

Because the rule was initially met with opposition and controversy, the agency delayed its enforcement on several occasions. In June 2017, OSHA also announced that it would not enforce the final rule’s standards, other than the new Permissible Exposure Level (PEL)and Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL), for construction or shipyard employers. OSHA also issued a direct final rule to clarify portions of the final rule on May 7, 2018.

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Legal Update Header On May 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guidance for recording COVID-19 vaccination adverse reactions.

The guidance now states that OSHA will not enforce the recording requirements to require any employers to record worker side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination through May 2022.

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Attracting and retaining employees is a constant struggle for organizations of any size, but it’s particularly so for small businesses.

With smaller teams, employers need to hold onto talent whenever possible. And that can be a challenge, especially when resources are scarce as they are currently amid the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why it’s critical for small employers to tailor their benefits offerings in a way that attracts and retains the most employees. One of the best ways to start this process is by surveying existing and potential employees. Employers can ask workers what types of benefits would interest them the most, then use that data to inform benefits decisions.

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HR Compliance Bulletin header image The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed in March 2020, required small and midsized employers to provide paid employee leave for specific COVID-19-related reasons through Dec. 31, 2020.

The FFCRA also provided tax credits for employers to cover the cost of the leave. The FFCRA employee leave requirements expired in December 2020; however, subsequent legislation extended the tax credits for employers that continued to offer FFCRA leave on a voluntary basis.