COVID-19 Update January 4, 2021

  • News

Congratulations! You made it through your first workday of 2021.

Now that we are able to put 2020 behind us, we can start looking forward to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as the next phase of community members begin to receive the vaccine this week. It is our belief that once both doses have been distributed, the economy should start to heal itself with more certainty for the future adding to people’s confidence.

Being based in New Orleans, as much as we attempt to diversify, our local economy is so heavily reliant on tourism. Although the threat of this virus is far from extinguished, we are seeing small signs that events this year are soon to come. The convention center has posted upcoming expositions for Q1, which will hopefully provide our hospitality industry some much-needed business.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that President Trump signed the latest Coronavirus relief/stimulus package on December 27th. Besides the expansion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the package also extends the refundable employer payroll tax credit for paid sick and family leave through March 2021, although the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) paid sick and family leave obligations, which are due to expire at the end of this year, were not extended. Those of you that are using the FFCRA for getting relief for employees that are out with COVID-19 issues should have the option to keep allowing employees to take the time off through the Cares Act provisions and get relief on your payroll taxes for the 1st quarter. Otherwise, they can choose to stop this as of December 31, 2020. If you have any questions or are wondering if this offering is good for your business, please reach out and we can review this further with you.

SHRM laid out some of the other key workplace provisions included in the bill, along with the specific employee handbook updates to make for 2021. If you have not recently updated your handbook, please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.

Have a Happy New Year!

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