On Jan. 29, 2021, the IRS updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) on tax credits available to employers for providing paid employee leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The paid sick and family leave requirements of the FFCRA expired on Dec. 31, 2020; however, the law’s tax credits were extended for employers that voluntarily provide the leave to employees through March 31, 2021. The IRS released a new FAQ on this extension. Read the FAQ.

After taking a pandemic related break in 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is resuming the practice of sending “no match” letters to employers, according to experts. A “no match” letter is a written notification by the SSA to an employer that there is a discrepancy between a workers’ social security number (used on W2 form) and government records. If your company receives a "no match" letter, read this article.

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Washington DC - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced in early January that it will open the equal employment opportunity (EEO) data collections later in 2021. The agency had previously delayed EEO collections in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the announcement, EEO reporting will now resume according to the following schedule. Private employers and federal contractors will be required to file both 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data.

EEOC Announcement.

The Biden administration’s move to freeze pending Trump-era regulations halted a high-stakes Labor Department rule that would make it easier for businesses to designate their workers as independent contractors and forces other federal workplace agencies to address rules that didn’t take effect before Inauguration Day. Agencies also are expected to “claw back” any rules that have been sent for publication to the Federal Register, but not yet published, per the memo’s instructions.

DOL also withdrew recent Opinion Letters recently issued by the Trump Administration that eased the rules for Independent Contractor designation.

OSHA has issued more than $4 million dollars in initial Coronavirus-related citations as of Thursday, January 14, 2021. See the list.

On January 29, OSHA issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus prevention program and better identify risks that could lead to exposure. President Biden directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure. Read more.