HR Pieces: Human Resource April News

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April 2020

Greetings from the HRA Team! We would like to personally thank you for subscribing to our monthly newsletter and hope that it brings value to your business.

Our community's current situation with COVID-19 has been challenging for everyone, and we want our clients and colleagues to know we are here to continue our tradition of timely and exceptional service even in these unprecedented times.

We will continue to provide communication on the most recent and relevant employer information on COVID-19 as circumstances evolve. If you find yourself in need of advisement, please utilize our HR hotline and allow one of our HR Advisors to assist you.

877-894-0202 ext. 5

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Stay Well,

The HRA Team

Lynette Weatherford MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP | President | Email | 877.894.0202 ext. 4

Candida Arvizu SPHR, SHRM-CP | HR Advisor | Email | 877.894.0202 ext. 1

Karla Callaway BS | HR Recruiter | Email | 877.894.0202 ext. 2

Camille Knowles PHR, SHRM-CP | HR Advisor | Email | 877.894.0202 ext. 3

Elizabeth Hurst MBA | Business Development | Email | 877.894.0202 ext. 5

HR Hotline | Email | 877-894-0202 ext. 5

April Contents

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act "CARES"

SBA Paycheck Protection Program

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

FFCRA Employment Poster - Must be Posted April 1st

Remote Training Available - Don't let your training needs go unmet due to COVID-19!
Remote I-9 Document Review Policy Takes Effect
Missouri Removes Restrictions on Benefits for Unemployment

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Congress Passes Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security

"CARES" Act

On March 27, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the largest economic bill in U.S. History, and President Trump has signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") into law. The act:

Provides various forgivable loans and other loan programs for small and mid-sized businesses, but attaches conditions designed to encourage businesses to retain employees or re-hire laid off employees. Visit SBA.GOV to learn about the Paycheck Protection Program aimed at helping small business continue payroll during this time.
Extends and increases benefit levels for unemployment insurance payments, and makes unemployment insurance payments available to sole proprietors, independent contractors and workers with limited employment histories; and
Makes certain clarifying changes to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act regarding the availability of paid sick leave for rehired employees.

Access SHRM's Employer Provisions Analysis of the CARES Act.

Source: Jackson Walker

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Effective April 1, 2020

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act goes into effect April 1st and remains effective through December 31, 2020.

Download the FFCRA Employment poster which must be posted by April 1, 2020.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Generally, the Act provides that employees of covered employers are eligible for:

Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee's regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or

Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee's regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an individual subject to quarantine, or to care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19, and/or the employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor; and

Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee's regular rate of pay where an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

Visit the Department of Labor for regular updates.

Temporary Remote I-9 Document Review Policy

On March 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This provision only applies to employers and workplaces that are operating remotely.

Employers with employees taking physical proximity precautions due to COVID-19 will not be required to review the employee's identity and employment authorization documents in the employee's physical presence. Visit the USCIS website for specific instructions on remote completion of the I-9 form.

E-Verify participants who choose the remote inspection option should follow current guidance and create cases for their new hires within three business days from the date of hire. Please see the E-Verify website for additional information.

Source: USCIS

Missouri Removes Restrictions on

Benefits for Unemployment

The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is waiving the normal one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance claims in an effort to decrease processing times. The state is also relaxing its requirement that claimants show they've made at least three attempts to find work in the prior week. The state will waive charging coronavirus-related claims on employers' unemployment insurance accounts in order to help employers avoid the negative impact on their payroll tax rate.

Visit the Missouri Department of Labor for the latest updates.