Posts
March 30 2020
Client Alert: Federal CARES Stimulus Relief Package: Forgivable Loan Program & Business Tax Relief
The federal government has initiated the largest fiscal stimulus package in modern history: the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (“CARES Act” or “Act”). The Cares Act allocates $350 billion to create the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP provides forgivable loans of up to $10 million to any business or non-profit with less than 500 employees.
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March 23 2020
Client Alert: The NYS Quarantine Leave Law: New York State Enacts Job-Protected Leave Benefits for Employees Impacted by COVID-19
On March 18, 2020, New York State enacted the Quarantine Leave Law (“Law”) which provides for additional paid and unpaid leave, as well as an expansion of the state’s paid family leave and disability benefits, to certain employees who are “subject to mandatory or precautionary orders of quarantine or isolation… issued by the State, the Department of Health, local board of health or any government entity authorized to issue such order” related to COVID-19. The law became effective immediately.
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March 23 2020
Client Alert: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Effective April 1, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) expands the eligibility and pay requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and provides for emergency paid sick leave. These requirements will expire on December 31, 2020.
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March 18 2020
Client Alert: COVID-19: Q & A For Employers
Much about the COVID-19 situation is fluid and evolving quickly. Below is a link to summarized answers to the most frequent questions concerning compensation, working conditions, and accommodating infected employees.
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February 26 2020
Client Alert: The Department of Labor Releases Final Rule on Joint Employer Status
On January 16, 2020, the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its final rule to determine joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The rule takes effect on March 16, 2020. Under the FLSA, an employee may have, in addition to their direct employer, one or more “joint employers” – separate independent entities that can he held liable for the employee’s wages, depending on the extent of control that entity has over the employee’s work.
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February 18 2020
Client Alert: USCIS Releases Updated Form I-9
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, available here. This new form and its instructions contain minor revisions. Employers are advised to begin using this updated Form I-9 immediately, even though the former version remains effective until April 30, 2020. After April 30, 2020, the former version, 07/17/2017N, will no longer be valid for use and employers who fail to use the new version may be subject to penalties.
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December 30 2019
Client Alert: Minimum Wage Developments in New York – 2020
With 2020 upon us, many New York employers must prepare for scheduled minimum wage increases that will take effect December 31, 2019. While the minimum wage will remain the same in 2020 for employers in New York City with 11 or more employees, all other New York employers will see the minimum wage rise based upon where the employee is located and the size of the employer.
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December 16 2019
Client Alert: ADA Gift Card Accessibility Lawsuits
Over recent months there has been a wave of new lawsuits filed in New York alleging that the failure of gift cards to contain braille is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), as well as state and city disability laws. Compliance with the ADA has long been the source of concern for many business owners. As most know, the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the employment context and in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods and services of any place of public accommodation. Examples of public accommodations include restaurants, hotels, retail stores, salons, galleries and spas.Click here to read the alert.