News

Welcome back after last month’s snowstorm. While last month’s weather events temporarily changed employers’ focus, we cannot understate the importance of continuing to follow COVID-19 guidance in the workplace particularly with the recent announcement by Governor Hutchinson. The general trend of infections and active cases in Arkansas is headed in the right direction, but employers should continue to remain vigilant to limit risk for their employees and client. Our newsletter this month focuses on updates to COVID-related mandates and guidance at the State and Federal levels.

Attorney A. Wyckliff Nisbet Jr has been involved with the Downtown Little Partnership (DLRP) since 1990 and his commitment to the organization was awarded recently with the dedication of a plaque in his honor. The plaque is located in the Baker’s Alley behind the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock and is also dedicated to former board member Rett Tucker.

In December 2020, as part of the larger National Defense Authorization Act, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)) was enacted with intentions of increasing transparency into companies to combat money laundering and criminal behavior. The CTA requires that certain companies (each a “reporting company”) disclose their ultimate beneficial ownership and control. If not exempt, all new entities and all existing entities will need to comply with these new regulations. Though the CTA is not effective immediately, the Treasury Department expects within one year to issue the regulations detailing how the act will be implemented.

Attorneys Michael S. Moore and Julio Olaya, Jr. discuss vaccines in the workplace and other covid-related issues important for employers right now in the firm's monthly Lunch and Learn Webinar Series. (February 3, 2021)

Yesterday the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services issued a Press Release (see below) notifying employers that their annual statements regarding unemployment contribution rates would reflect non-charges for the Second Quarter of 2020, pursuant to the Executive Order issued by the Governor in late 2020.

Over the past year, the news from our group has come in the form of alerts addressing recent changes in the law, mostly due to the pandemic. These are designed to keep employers apprised of legal changes and armed with knowledge to address issues that might arise. COVID-19 came about suddenly, and legislation and executive orders quickly followed. Our legal and business landscapes changed as a result, as did how we operate day to day. From the beginning of the pandemic to today, our labor and employment group has grappled with novel challenges, immersed ourselves in the new laws and regulations, and brainstormed together solutions to the new challenges employers are facing, both COVID-related and non-COVID related.

In a move to consolidate all of the taxing services for the State of Arkansas to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), effective as of January 1, 2021, all Arkansas entities required to pay annual Franchise Taxes will no longer file with the Secretary of State and will now file with the DFA.