September 2020
HR & Safety News, Insights, and Updates  
$300 Extra Unemployment Compensation Benefits Coming to Floridians

On August 28, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will submit Florida's application to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program. This program, authorized by a memorandum from President Trump, provides additional temporary benefits for individuals who are eligible for Reemployment Assistance for weeks of unemployment ending on or after Aug. 1, 2020... Read how it works.
If Employees Choose Remote School for Children, are they eligible for paid days under FFCRA?

With Florida schools reopening, employers are revisiting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ("FFCRA"), which provides two weeks of paid sick leave related to COVID-19 and up to twelve weeks of paid leave under the expanded Family and Medical Leave Act ("EFMLA"). Recently, the Department of Labor published new, updated guidance that guides employers about when employees (with school-age children) are entitled to paid benefits under the FFCRA.  Read more.
EEOC Releases Technical Guidance for Employers on Opioid Use by Employees

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released questions & answers for employees and employers about Opioids in the workplace. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) an employee may have the right to get reasonable accommodations and other protections that can protect their job. Q.5: Can an employee get a reasonable accommodation because they take prescription opioids to treat pain? Read the answer.
What is the 2020 Payroll Tax Relief proposed by the President? 

Payroll tax relief is available for employers and is applicable to wages paid from September 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. New IRS Guidance explains that employers are allowed to defer withholding, deposit, and payment of the employee's portion of Social Security tax on wages that are less than $4,000 during a bi-weekly pay period. This is a deferral of the payroll tax and not an exemption from payroll tax. Read more.  This is optional for employers.
I9 Compliance: USCIS Will Temporarily allow certain Form I-797 (Notice of Action) as a List C document

The pandemic has slowed the production of new employment authorization documents and renewals.  As a result, even though USCIS explicitly states that the Form I-797 Notice of Action is not evidence of employment authorization, the temporary guidance allows employers to accept Form I-797 with a Notice date on or after December 1, 2019 through and including August 20, 2020 informing an applicant of approval of an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) until December 1, 2020, as a List C document. Under this policy, an employee must still present an acceptable identification document from List B. If accepted, employers must re-verify all employees who presented a Form I-797 Notice of Action as a List C document by December 1, 2020.  Read the USCIS Guidance.
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Stuart Charlson | Consultstu LLC | 727-350-0370 | info@consultstu.com | www.consultstu.com
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