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The CARES Act, now passed by the House and Senate and expected to be signed by the President changes the unemployment system and created a pandemic unemployment assistance program. For weeks of unemployment, partial unemployment, orinability to work caused by COVID-19 between January 27 and December 31 the act provides covered individuals with unemployment benefit assistance when they are not entitled to any other unemployment compensation or waiting period credit. This includes self-employed and other workers, such as independent contractors, who have not previously been included in the unemployment system. The weekly benefit amount is generally the amount determined under state law plus an additional $600 for up to 39 weeks (which is notably longer than the typical 26 weeks in most states).

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Employers are required to post the FFCRA Poster to provide notice to all employees.

Employers familiar with the federal form I9 know that the Authorized Representative must physically inspect the documents presented by the employee so that she may attest the documents appear genuine and relate to the new employee. The employee must also be physically present. That has presented a problem for employers with remote workers. At least for now, there is a temporary solution, but only for those employers working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EEOC and the Department of Labor have posted recent guidance for employers related to COVID-19. Here are key takeaways for employers:

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the U.S. Senate approved H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. The final version of the law contains significant revisions to the draft bill we reported on earlier this week. The FFCRA, as passed, includes two provisions regarding paid leave: 1) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act; and 2) the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act. Both provisions will go into effect Thursday, April 2, 2020 (15 days after signing the bill). They expire on December 31, 2020.

The Treasury Department has issued its proposal on the next phase of legislation, which would include two, $1,000 payments to certain citizens and would devote $300 billion to government-backed small business interruption loans to help avoid layoffs. The loans under this plan would cover 100 percent of payroll for six weeks with a cap of $1,540 per week per employee. The Treasury Department would promulgate rules and regulations regarding interest rates and conditions for eligibility and repayment.

As Arkansas learns of its first presumptive case of coronavirus (COVID-19), it seems inevitable that the virus will have at least some impact on day-to-day activities. The precise extent and duration of that impact remain to be seen. In light of these unusual circumstances, the best mantra we could advise your business is to expect the best but prepare for the worst.