News

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.

The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new Form I-9. USCIS has advised employers to begin using the new Form I-9 immediately.

Attorney Daniel L. Herrington has been named the recipient of the 2019 Russell Gunter Member of the Year Award by the Central Arkansas Human Resources Association (CAHRA). The award was presented by Patti Airoldi and Dale Clinton earlier today at the organization’s year-end meeting.

As dispensaries open their doors across the state, Arkansas employers should have a policy in place for how to deal with medical marijuana in the workplace. One of the questions we have been asked most frequently is what positions qualify as “safety sensitive” under the language of Arkansas’ medical marijuana Amendment (Ark. Const. Amend. XCVIII). While the interpretation of the medical marijuana Amendment has yet to be tested in court, this article addresses our opinion on what positions qualify as “safety sensitive.”

By Allison Pearson The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently issued an opinion making it easier for employers to withdraw recognition of a union. The NLRB issued its opinion in Johnson Controls, NLRB, 10-CA-151843, on July 3, 2019, upholding the employer’s anticipatory withdrawal of recognition of a union that represented 160 of its workers.