Not surprisingly, the health of the Unemployment Trust Fund and the taxes on employers required to maintain it are shaping up to be significant issues for Vermont employers going into 2021. Unfortunately, the end of the recent legislative session shows that dealing with these issues will be challenging. AIV will be leading efforts to address […]
Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Unemployment Insurance fraud has become a significant problem because of the volume of regular unemployment compensation and pandemic unemployment claims filed due to COVID-19. On September 21, the USDOL Office of Inspector General (OIG) released the Unemployment Insurance Fraud Consumer Protection Guide with links to state workforce agencies and tips to avoid and respond […]
Updated Resources and Guidance from USDOL and OSHA
Apprenticeships: A Discover Apprenticeship campaign launched this week aims to raise awareness about the benefits of apprenticeship and encourage employers to create apprenticeship programs. Click here. Release: The Department announced revised regulations to clarify paid leave requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Click here. Guidance: Using cloth face coverings while working outdoors in […]
Revised Regulations Implementing Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under FFCRA
On September 11, USDOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted revisions to regulations that implemented the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA. The revisions made by the new rule clarify workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under the FFCRA’s paid leave provisions, in light of the U.S. District Court […]
Webinar: What Manufacturers Need to Know About Payroll Tax Deferral
AIV’s national allies and partners at NAM are hosting a webinar this Wednesday September 2 from 3:00 to 3:45 pm to discuss President’s executive order on the deferral of employee payroll tax obligations and the recently-released guidance to implement this policy, which takes effect this week. It will provide an overview of the policy and […]
Federal Funding for Increased Unemployment through Lost Wages Assistance Program
Governor Scott has announced that the state has applied for, and received, an initial grant award of $35.8 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Other Needs Assistance, or Lost Wage Assistance (LWA), program. The LWA program provides an additional $300 per week to eligible individuals filing for unemployment insurance. The first […]
Additional Guidance on FLSA, FMLA, and FFCRA
The US Department of Labor has announced additional guidance to provide information to workers and employers about how the requirements and protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) impact the workplace as America continues to reopen from the coronavirus. The […]
New Initial UI Claimants to Receive Verification Call to Help Address Fraud
Beginning July 14, individuals who established an initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits with the Vermont Department of Labor may receive a phone call to confirm their identity and intent to file. This extra step is being taken to protect Vermonters against fraudulent filers using their personal information. This type of “imposter fraud” has been […]
Updated Guidance on Reporting FFCRA Leave from the IRS
Notice 2020-54 provides guidance to employers on the requirement to report the amount of qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response. Employers are required to report these amounts either on Form W-2, Box 14, or on a separate statement. This required reporting provides employees […]
PPP Application Deadline to be Extended
Congress has passed and sent to the President legislation to extend the application deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program to August 8. The previous deadline was June 30. Approximately $130 billion remains available for loans under the program, after Congress acted earlier this year to replenish the program following the swift exhaustion of its initial […]