News & Events

The new FFCRA leave law is coming a little more into focus (despite being already in effect).  Late last week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clarified that only one caregiver may take advantage of the emergency paid sick or FMLA leave available under the recently enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to care for a child whose school or childcare is closed

Due to the state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor of Maryland, and the labor conditions across the state of Maryland, the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor (MDDOL) has ordered, effective March 20, 2020, a temporary exemption from the work search requirements for individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits. 

Many of you have reached out to discuss difficult decisions forced by COVID-19.  On this call, Merry shared answers to your most commonly asked questions on the new paid sick and paid family leave – including: who qualifies, what it costs and how does other paid leave play into this.

As you may know, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued guidance on operations and services that should continue during the COVID-19 response to ensure the continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security.  In response to the efforts of the real estate industry, on March 28, 2020, CISA released updated guidance (Version 2.0) that now includes “Residential and commercial real estate services, including settlement services” within the list of essential services. 

In an effort to help businesses and individuals weather the economic storm created by the coronavirus shutdowns, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed and the President signed on March 27, included many provisions easing restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Key changes relating to Individual taxpayers are highlighted below. Changes oriented toward businesses have been covered in a separate Alert.

A Call with Merry Campbell
Many of you have reached out to discuss difficult decisions forced by COVID-19.  On this call, Merry will share answers to your most commonly asked questions on the new paid sick and paid family leave.

Please note that this alert was updated on March 31, 2020, and reflects additional information provided by the Department of Labor on or about March 26, 2020.BackgroundOn March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) was signed into law, providing paid sick leave and family and medical leave for employees affected by COVID-19.

In an effort to help businesses and individuals weather the economic storm created by the coronavirus shutdowns, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed and the President signed on March 27, included many provisions easing restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.  Key Changes relating to businesses are highlighted below. 

By Ronald Adler, President-CEO, Laurdan Associates, Inc.

www.laurdan.com

The CARES Act imposes important new requirements on the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program.