Labor and Employment Alert: Unpacking the Federal Stimulus Package’s Direct Payments, Enhanced Unemployment Payments, and FFCRA Leave ExtensionFor a discussion of these and other legal issues, please visit our website at www.mhtl.com. To receive legal updates via e-mail, contact information@mhtl.com.
Introduction: There has been a great deal of discussion in the news lately about the latest Congressional stimulus package, which was ultimately signed by President Trump on Sunday, December 27, 2020, following his initial pushback. The stimulus package, officially known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Stimulus”), is a behemoth piece of legislation that consists of nearly 5,600 pages, covering a broad array of appropriation matters. The Stimulus addresses elements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which were both signed into law in March 2020. The FFCRA provides paid sick leave and family leave entitlements while the CARES Act provides economic relief for both out-of-work employees and businesses that are shut down or have curtailed business operations as a result of COVID-19. Both laws contained sunset provisions with an end date of December 31, 2020. With COVID-19 still ever-present, the Stimulus addresses the continuation of certain elements of the FFCRA and the CARES Act, and also includes a variety of new spending provisions that are unrelated to COVID-19. The purpose of this Client Alert is to identify the key employment-related elements of the Stimulus in order to better understand what impact it will have on your businesses and organizations. Highlights $600 Direct Payments:
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By Christina Refford, Marketing Specialist, South Shore Staffing
November 15th starts International Fraud Awareness Week, a time when we should all educate ourselves about fraud and how to protect ourselves against it. At South Shore Staffing, we have had two close calls with unemployment fraud in a short period of time. To learn more about unemployment fraud specifically, keep reading for tips on how to handle it: With unemployment rates so high due to pandemic-related layoffs and closures, one group is taking full advantage of the situation: The scammers. From super-sophisticated organizations draining states of millions of dollars, to opportunists who want to make a quick buck, the rise in fraudulent unemployment activity is alarming. In fact, the FBI even notified states of the rise in unemployment claims using stolen personal information back in July. Federal relief programs such as the $2.2 trillion federal CARES Act which provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) has only increased the illegal activity. In fact, Colorado had to stop $750 million to $1 billion in improper payments because more than three out of four claims made under the PUA program were fraudulent! By Nan O'Neill, Partner, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP For a discussion of these and other legal issues, please visit our website at www.mhtl.com. To receive legal updates via e-mail, contact information@mhtl.com.
On Monday, November 2, 2020, Governor Baker issued three new COVID-19 Orders, all of which are effective Friday, November 6, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. COVID-19 Order No. 53 (https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-order-53/download) imposes a Mandatory Night-Time Closing Period for Certain Businesses and Activities from 9:30 p.m. each day until 5:00 a.m. the following day. This Mandatory Closing Period Order prohibits certain businesses, facilities, and activities from admitting customers, patrons, or members of the public to their premises or otherwise offering, providing, or permitting in-person, on-premises services or activities, during the closed period. Businesses, facilities, and activities subject to the mandatory closing period include:
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