It’s #WorkforceWednesday! This week, some practical updates on posting requirements, reporting deadlines, and new COVID-19 leave in California.
DOL Guidance on Posting Notices for the Remote Workplace
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued guidance on posting requirements for employees working remotely. Though the guidance applies only to federal notices for fully remote workplaces, it contains helpful direction for employers about posting federal, state, and local notices for hybrid workforces. Click for more - workforcebulletin.com/2021/01/08/how-to-comply-with-notice-and-posting-requirements-during-the-age-of-remote-working/
EEO-1 Reporting Deadline Delayed
This year, the submission window for 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 data has been delayed and will open April 26, 2021, and close on July 19, 2021. This year’s submission window extends the data collection period from 10 weeks to 12 weeks to provide employers additional time to file - eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-announces-april-26-opening-date-collection-2019-and-2020-eeo-1-component-1-data
At the state level, today is the first annual deadline for California employers with 100 or more employees nationwide to report pay and demographic data to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing - ebglaw.com/news/california-pay-data-reporting-due-march-31-2021/
California Enacts New COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave
As of March 29, full-time California employees are entitled to up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave related to COVID-19. The new law applies to businesses with over 25 employees for time off related to COVID-19 quarantines, caregiving, and vaccinations. Here’s more - ebglaw.com/news/california-enacts-legislation-retroactively-expanding-supplemental-covid-19-paid-sick-leave/
Other Highlights
Wage Increases Impacting Health Care Employers
Eight states—California, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York—and the District of Columbia will raise their state minimum wage to $15 or higher by 2026. The wage shifts will significantly impact health care employers, where nearly 7 million of the approximately 18.6 million health care employees in the U.S. earn a median wage of $13.48. Learn more - healthemploymentandlabor.com/2021/03/29/changing-floors-minimum-wage-increases-for-health-leaders-to-consider/
NY Issues Guidance on Vaccination Leave
New York has issued guidance for the state’s new law requiring that all private employers in New York provide their employees with up to four hours of paid leave to get each COVID-19 vaccination shot. The guidance clarifies that the law does not create any retroactive benefit rights to paid vaccination leave - workforcebulletin.com/2021/03/24/new-york-issues-faqs-on-paid-vaccination-leave-law/
ARPA Requires Tax-Free COBRA Subsidy
As part of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), employers will be required to provide, on a tax-free basis, a subsidy to involuntarily terminated employees and their qualified beneficiaries to pay 100% of the COBRA continuation premium for group health plan coverage. Learn more - workforcebulletin.com/2021/03/30/arpa-requires-tax-free-cobra-subsidy/
What We’re Reading
“Next Pandemic-Era Steps for a Safe and Equitable Workplace,” a Law360 Employment Authority article by attorneys David Garland and Susan Gross Sholinsky. Read the article here - ebglaw.com/news/next-pandemic-era-steps-for-a-safe-and-equitable-workplace/
WORKFORCE (re)imagined.TM
Employers are strategically preparing for business beyond the pandemic. Stay up to date as you reimagine your workforce - ebglaw.com/return-to-work/
We invite you to view Employment Law This Week® – learn about the top developments in employment and labor law and workforce management in a matter of minutes every #WorkforceWednesday.
Watch the series and subscribe for email notifications: EmploymentLawThisWeek.com.
These materials have been provided for informational purposes only and are not intended and should not be construed to constitute legal advice. The content of these materials is copyrighted to Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS WEEK® is a registered trademark of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.
