Archive
Month: May 2020
OSHA Changes Enforcement – When to Report COVID-19 Cases at Work
On May 19, OSHA updated its enforcement guidance to employers (and Compliance Officers) with respect to the recording of occupational illnesses, specifically coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. In mid-April, OSHA previously advised that most employers (except healthcare employers) did not have an obligation to analyze whether an employee’s COVI...
SBA Publishes the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) just released the Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness rules through the publishing of the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application. With worksheets and instructions, the SBA has given employers a better understanding of how the forgiveness application process will go. So, what did we learn? Here are the bi...
New Updated CDC Guidelines for Reopening Workplaces
Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released updated information and a new tool to assist employers in making (re)opening decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to protect vulnerable workers. First, a Workplace Decision Tree advises employers to first review state and local orders and directions to determine the mos...
Can We Accept Expired List B documents for Form I-9 during COVID-19?
On May 1, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many areas are under stay-at-home orders and some online renewal services have restrictions and employees may experience challenges renewing a state driver’s license, a state ID card, or other Form I-9, List B document. Until f...
Florida Unemployed must Re-certify Every 2 weeks
Governor DeSantis announced over the weekend that unemployed Floridians are required to login to the DEO CONNECT Reemployment portal every two weeks to recertify that they are eligible for benefits. This has caused some confusion from furloughed and laid off employees, because the requirement to search for work was extended to May 30, but this......
What are the basic rules for PPP Loan Forgiveness?
In April, small/mid businesses all over Florida jumped at the chance to obtain SBA loans to help stay in business and fund payroll. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized billions for qualifying businesses to obtain loans for payroll, benefits, rent and other costs, and the ke...
COVID-19 Safety at Construction Sites
In Florida, general contractors, construction trades, subcontractors and other construction related businesses have continued to operate during the “safer at home” orders because they were designated as essential businesses. There is also some evidence that working outside, in the sunlight may actually slow the spread of COVID. The CDC ...
Workplace Preparation for “Smart, Safe and Step by Step” Return to Work
On April 29, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-112 called Safe, Smart, Step by Step Plan for Florida’s recovery. The plan involves individual responsibility (limiting personal interactions and avoiding large groups), senior citizens and individuals with significant underlying medical conditions are still encouraged to stay hom...
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