American Rescue Plan Act – Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus
President Biden signed a massive piece of COVID-19 relief legislation on Thursday, March 11, with benefits totaling approximately $1.9 trillion dollars. The bill, named the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), provides the well-publicized $1,400 for many Americans. The bill also continues expanded unemployment benefits and an expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), while providing […]
New COVID guidance from OSHA
On January 29, 2021 OSHA released guidance to help employers and employees identify risks related to exposure to and contracting of COVID-19 at work. This guidance is intended to apply to most workplace settings, but specifically does not apply to healthcare or emergency response settings/workplaces. The guidance contains recommendations that are advisory in nature and […]
Dane County loosens restrictions; allows 10 person indoor gatherings
Effective this morning, Dane County Public Health has issued Emergency Order #11, in response to an improvement in COVID numbers in Dane County. As the order omits mandatory school closure, the Public Health Department also released guidance for schools considering reopening in person instruction. What has changed under Emergency Order #11? Mass Gatherings Citing a […]
Employers Must Provide Employees Unemployment Notice at Separation
Effective November 2, 2020 Wisconsin employers will be required to provide all departing employees, regardless of the reason for the separation with the company, written notice regarding Unemployment Insurance Benefits. What Should the Notice Say? The DWD has suggested language to be included in the notice to be given to employees, including the following: That […]
Governor Evers Extends Statewide Mask Order
On September 22, Governor Evers announced a new Declaration of Public Health Emergency and Emergency Order requiring face coverings as the orders issued in July reach their expiration dates. Our analysis of the previous orders can be found here (along with a comparison to the Dane County mask order). Largely, the orders mirror the orders […]
Businesses Need to Know: COVID Related Requirements
A flurry of federal and local legislation has been passed in the past five or so months pertaining to COVID. And, although we have blogged about most of this information in the past, the following is a brief rundown of what you need to know now, with hyperlinks to previous, more in-depth explanations. For employers […]
SCOTUS and LGBTQ: New Employment Protections Nationwide
On June 15, 2020, The Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. In a 6-3 decision, the Court found that protections in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extend to homosexual and transgender employees. Employers across the country may no longer discriminate against LGTBQ employees, linking disparate […]
Dane County Order: Employers must post Workplace Requirements
In response to rising COVID case numbers in and around Madison, Dane County has released new, more restrictive rules to enforce social distancing. Dane County is still in Phase 2, but has made the following changes. The new rule, Dane County Emergency Order #7 (“Order #7) goes into effect on July 2, 2020, at 8am. […]
Paid Leave and Expanded Unemployment Benefits: Guidance from DOL and DWD
By enacting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) (you can find our summary of this legislation here) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“the CARES Act”) (you can find our summary of this legislation here), the federal government provided a rapid response to address the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. […]
Unemployment Benefits under CARES
On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) became law. Among many provisions, the bill bolsters unemployment aid for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding both the aid available and range of people eligible for the aid. The full Act can […]