The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced additional guidance to provide information to workers and employers about how the requirements and protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) impact the workplace as America continues to reopen. The new guidance provides plain-language questions and answers addressing critical issues under all three laws.
This guidance published today adds to a growing list of compliance assistance materials published by WHD, including a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers, and a Questions and Answers resource about paid sick and expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA. Available guidance also includes two posters, one for federal workers and one for all other employees, that fulfill notice requirements for employers obligated to inform employees about their rights under the FFCRA. The guidance also includes Questions and Answers about posting requirements and simple Quick Benefits Tips to determine how much paid leave workers may take under the FFCRA.
WHD provides additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19 and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
For more information about the laws enforced by the WHD, call 1-866-4US-WAGE or visit www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.
America's Recovery Fund Coalition (ARFC) applauds the effort by Representatives Filemon Vela (D-TX-34) and Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) to establish a fund that would provide stability to American businesses as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
We wholeheartedly endorse and support the legislation introduced by Representatives Vela and Gooden to establish the Small Business Recovery Fund. In this bill, we finally have a vehicle to cultivate a sustainable economic recovery. By prioritizing the hardest-hit businesses and with greater flexibility in how the money can be used, the Recovery Fund will help fill the gaps left by earlier programs and give business owners the immediate relief and certainty needed to keep their doors open.
As repeated shutdowns and rollbacks of reopening plans continue to disrupt the economy, this legislation will provide the stability that Main Streets across America so desperately need. We thank Representatives Vela and Gooden and call on Congress to pass the Small Business Comeback Act now. The longer we wait, the more costly - and perilous - inaction becomes.
Through a direct grant program with strong oversight and anti-corruption guardrails, the Small Business Comeback Act would allow businesses to retain and rehire employees, continue to provide benefits including health care, pay rent, local, and state taxes, and meet certain debt obligations. This will allow businesses to weather the pandemic, keep American workers employed, and preserve the health and livelihoods of communities across the United States, regardless of business structure or employment type.
The Small Business Recovery Fund would provide federal grants for operational expenses to help businesses reopen and stay open as they navigate a new normal. The fund will include anti-abuse mechanisms and strict federal oversight.
The Internal Revenue Service has started sending letters to taxpayers who have experienced a delay in the processing of their Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due To COVID-19.
A taxpayer will receive letter 6312 if the IRS either rejected Form 7200 or made a change to the requested amount of advance payment due to a computation error.
The letter will explain the reason for the rejection or, if the amount is adjusted, the new payment amount will be listed on the letter.
A taxpayer will receive letter 6313 if the IRS needs written verification from a taxpayer that the address listed on their Form 7200 is the current mailing address for their business. The IRS will not process Form 7200 or change the last known address until the taxpayer provides it.
For more information on the employer credits, see Employer Tax Credits.
TIA remains an active participant in the PPP Forgiveness Coalition. In the Senate, we are up 4 more members to a total of 14 cosponsors of S. 4117: Senators Cramer (R-ND), Menendez (D-NJ), Tillis (R-NC), Sinema (D-AZ), Cotton (R-AR), Capito (R-WV), Cornyn (R-TX), Moran (R-KS), Perdue (R-GA), Loeffler (R-GA), Murkowski (R-AK), Barrasso (R-WY), Crapo (R-ID) and Rounds (R-SD).
Senate Democrat offices are expressing interest in the bill and understand the need for a simplified forgiveness process. We have good momentum with Senate offices. Negotiations are underway and if we have hopes of being included in the package.
In the House, Cong. Houlahan and Cong. Upton are still awaiting leg council to review and send them bill language; apparently leg council is still dealing with the backlog from the high number of NDAA amendments. In the interim, both offices plan on sending to House offices a Dear Colleague and section-by-section outlining the bill and asking for members to cosponsor. We will pass along more information when we get updates from our House sponsors.