Although Congress had the opportunity to extend the requirement that companies with 500 or fewer employees provide paid medical leave and family leave to workers impacted by COVID-19, it did not do so; and those mandates expired on December 31, 2020.  The eleventh hour stimulus package did keep in place, through March 31, 2021, the tax credit to employers who voluntarily continue to provide this paid benefit. The USDOL has issued some guidance to provide…

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, both part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, (collectively the “Stimulus Bill”) contain numerous provisions related to employer sponsored benefit plans. Below are some of the key provisions relating to welfare plans, retirement plans and other employer provided benefits.…

On New Year’s Day, eligible Massachusetts workers will be able to begin receiving paid family and medical leave from the Department of Family and Medical Leave.  Here’s what employers need to know now… Who is eligible for benefits? W-2 employees Contractors who receive a 1099-MISC form from a business that issues 1099-MISC forms to more than 50% of its workforce Former employees who have been unemployed for 26 weeks or fewer…

Effective December 26, 2020, Massachusetts businesses will see additional restrictions on occupancy capacity and gathering sizes.  These new measures, which were announced by Governor Charlie Baker, are intended to prevent a post-Christmas surge of COVID-19 infections.  Massachusetts saw significant increases in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths related to the pandemic following the Thanksgiving holiday, when many people failed to heed recommendations to avoid large gatherings.  The Governor hopes that these new restrictions will avoid a further…

In the latest episode of McLane Middleton Minutes, Charla Stevens, chair of the firm’s Employment Law Practice Group, interviews Tracie Sponenberg, the Chief People Officer at The Granite Group, on dealing with issues facing employee well-being in the workplace. Click here to listen to the episode, or find it on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Spotify.…

Employers have been asking for months whether they may mandate employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine.  According to the EEOC’s recent guidance, the short answer is “yes,” but with certain legal limitations.  Employers considering a policy on vaccinations should make sure they review this current guidance. On December 16, 2020, the EEOC updated its Q&A guidance What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws  with a…