COVID-19 Update January 20, 2021

Today, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46^th President of the United States of America. He has taken the oath of office, and his cabinet will be sworn in over the next few days. In addition, Kamala Harris has made history as the country’s first black, female, and South Asian Vice President.

President Biden has said he intends to use executive orders to accomplish some of his goals during the first 100 days of his presidency — including, after his inauguration, extending an eviction moratorium and forbearance on student loan payments — but some moves require congressional approval, such as the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal he outlined last week. He also plans to overturn several of former President Trump’s actions, such as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, as well as putting an end to the Muslim ban on travel. In his first days of office, he will unveil a sweeping comprehensive immigration plan that provides a multi-year pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants in the US. The American Rescue Plan comprises paid leave, an increased minimum wage, an extension of unemployment compensation, more support for small businesses, and relief to those who need help.

As the new administration implements these changes and more, please stay tuned as we will be putting them into context for our businesses. For employers who worry about political expression in the workplace, here is an article that outlines when employees who’ve engaged in disruptive behavior can be disciplined.

Lastly, here is an excellent article on how your business can take full advantage of the latest stimulus package in the areas of PPP2 and the ERTC tax credits.