What is the National Association of Manufacturing saying about COVID-19?
The Utah Manufacturing Association received the following email from Jay Timmons, President and CEO of National Association of Manufacturers.
Todd,
In this rapidly developing crisis, the National Association of Manufacturers is equipping manufacturers with the latest vital information and providing numerous opportunities for you to offer your assistance, share your experiences, provide your perspective and guide the actions of our leaders in Washington. We are in daily contact with the White House task force, cabinet secretaries and key members of Congress.
We plan to send regular updates by email so that you have easy access to the most recent information and are up to date on how the NAM is leading for our industry and our country during this pandemic.
Here are some of the latest developments:
NAM Calls for $1.4 Trillion Manufacturing Resiliency Fund
Congress is already working on a “phase three” relief bill, and on Wednesday, the NAM called for Congress to provide a $1.4 trillion “Manufacturing Resiliency Fund” to provide loans so that small and medium-sized manufacturers can access desperately needed liquidity. The fund is one of many targeted proposals in the NAM’s expanded COVID-19 Policy Action Plan Recommendations, released Wednesday, guiding Congress and federal agencies in the response—on everything from producing protective equipment, declaring manufacturing essential business, ensuring economic security for workers and more.
Our leaders have already acted on many of our original proposals, and if they continue to move swiftly and boldly, manufacturers will be able to rise to this challenge and keep our country healthy and our economy strong.
NAM Calls for Manufacturing to Be Declared Essential Business
Today, the NAM called on governors and local leaders to designate all manufacturing facilities, supply chains and their employees as “essential infrastructure” and “essential businesses” to ensure clear, consistent and more uniformly aligned guidance. There have been many well-intentioned actions to shutter all businesses in certain localities, and the result has adversely impacted operations for the supply chain. The NAM is also developing resources to help manufacturers clarify their essential function in the coronavirus response.
Senate Passes, President Signs “Phase Two” Relief Bill
Late Wednesday, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the second aid bill to address the COVID-19 pandemic. It creates a new emergency paid leave program under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Private employers, including manufacturers, with under 500 employees are required to provide paid time off for a wide range of circumstances related to COVID-19 for up to 12 weeks. It also creates new, temporary (through Dec. 31, 2020) refundable tax credits for the paid leave requirements. These credits are limited in amount and only available to companies with fewer than 500 employees.
H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion and Paid Sick Leave Provisions
- Creates a new “Public Health Emergency Leave” program under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Private employers, including manufacturers, under 500 employees are required to cover workers for a wide range of circumstances related to COVID-19 for a total of 12 weeks of job-protected leave. Other specifics include:
- Two weeks of Public Health Emergency Leave only if an employee is not able to work or telework because of a school closure. This leave may be unpaid, but a worker can elect to use other paid leave if offered.
- Following 14 days of leave, pay for an employee follows a 2/3 normal pay rate schedule.
- Unpaid leave can be requested by employees meeting certain criteria for COVID-related circumstances until December 31, 2020.
- Certain health-care providers and emergency responders are excluded from this benefit.
- Workers under multi-employer collective bargaining agreements have access to this program.
- A company under 50 employees can request exemption from these provisions to the Secretary of Labor.
- Under the “Emergency Paid Sick Leave” provisions, workers with under 500 employees will need to be paid by the employer for potentially up to 12 weeks.
- Full-time employees are to receive 80 hours of sick leave, and part-time employees are to receive time off that is equivalent to their normal work schedule in a two-week period.
- Workers can take Emergency Leave for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, mandatory isolation, recommendations from health officials, symptoms of COVID-19 or care for family members affected.
- Workers would now be eligible for 12 paid weeks in total, in addition to the benefits currently offered through their employer.
- In addition to self-care if diagnosed with COVID-19, qualifying circumstances under a public health emergency include complying with health officials’ recommendations, caring for a family member or taking care of dependents if school is closed.
Tax Credits for Employers:
- The legislation creates new, temporary (through December 31, 2020) refundable tax credits for the paid sick leave and paid family leave requirements. These credits are only available to companies with less than 500 employees.
- The maximum annual per-employee credit for sick leave pay is $5110 for employees taking time to care for themselves and $2,000 for employees taking time to care for others. The maximum credit for family leave pay is $10,000 per employee. These amounts may be increased by the value of certain employer-provided health benefits. Refundable credits with similar limits would also apply to self-employed individuals.
- These amounts are creditable against an employer’s payroll tax liability, and refundable to the extent they exceed a company’s aggregate payroll tax liabilities.
NAM Coordinates with White House on Emergency Supply Production
Earlier this week, the NAM surveyed manufacturers on the urgently needed emergency supplies they could produce or donate. We are sharing that information with federal officials and have begun direct follow-ups with specific companies. We will continue and expand this effort over the coming days.
As always, you can visit
nam.org/coronavirus
for the latest information, including state-specific resources, on ensuring the health of your employees, the NAM’s policy leadership and more. Email our Response Team at [email protected] with any questions or feedback.