This week, our special podcast series, Employers and the New Administration, concludes with a look at how President Biden’s landmark American Rescue Plan impacts employers. We also update you on recent COVID-19 vaccine news.
Employers and the American Rescue Plan
As President Biden’s first 100 days come to a close, his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) is having a big impact on employers. The plan, one of the largest stimulus bills in history, attempts to provide relief to constituents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through several ways, among those ways are changes to employee benefits and compensation.
In this episode, Grace Melton, Washington National Tax Compensation and Benefits Practice Leader at Deloitte Tax, and attorney Gretchen Harders discuss how ARPA affects employers and what adjustments to benefits and compensation employers need to review. Attorney David Garland leads the conversation.
Employers and the New Administration is a special podcast series from Employment Law This Week®, with analysis on the first 100 days of the Biden administration. Listen to the full series on your preferred podcast platform and subscribe below.
See below for the video edition and the extended audio podcast:
Extended Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher.
COVID-19 Vaccine News
Several COVID-19 vaccine updates were announced for employers last week: a paid leave tax credit for employers with less than 500 employees, new reporting guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and impending guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on vaccine incentive programs. Read more on the COVID-19 vaccine legal issues employers must consider.
Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher.
Other Highlights
ARPA’s Impact on Multiemployer Pension Plans
ARPA’s provisions regarding multiemployer pension plans focus primarily on the plans themselves as well as their participants and beneficiaries. Nevertheless, employers that are contributing or that contemplate future contributions to a multiemployer pension plan (including those employers contemplating withdrawal) should all be cognizant of ARPA’s impact. Read more.
National Labor Relations Board Intends to Expand Section 7 Protections
Before taking adverse action to remedy harassment or in regard to an employee’s political and social justice advocacy activities at or outside of the workplace, even if unrelated to an employees’ union and labor organizing activities, employers need to analyze whether the harassing speech or advocacy activities are now protected conduct under the broadened interpretation of Section 7 rights Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr used in his March 31 memo.
What We’re Reading
“Developing a strategic plan for AI in the workplace: Where to start,” a Benefits Pro article by attorney Michelle Capezza.
About Employment Law This Week
Employment Law This Week® gives a rundown of the top developments in employment and labor law and workforce management in a matter of minutes every #WorkforceWednesday.
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