May 2021

New Law Mandates Employers Pay COBRA Benefits

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”) into law.  The Act mandates that employers provide 100% of an eligible employee’s cost of continuing group health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) for the period of April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Employers …

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OSHA Targets Employers That Retaliate Against Workers Raising COVID-19 Concerns

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (the “Act”) prohibits employers from retaliating against employees because they report unsafe and unhealthy work conditions, whether internally or to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  OSHA, the federal agency which administers and enforces the Act, has begun an aggressive campaign to investigate employers who have been accused …

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Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccinations

On March 12, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law granting employees paid leave time to receive Covid-19 vaccinations.  Under this new law (New York State Labor Law §196-C), every employee must be provided a paid leave of absence from his or her employment for a sufficient period of time, not to exceed four …

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COVID-19 Vaccines and Employer Liability

Employers are exploring their options for mandating or encouraging workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations.  They may even want to offer vaccines onsite when they are available.  So can an employer be held liable if a worker has an adverse reaction to the vaccine? The safety of the vaccines currently approved by the FDA, combined with …

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Small Businesses Can Get a Tax Credit for Providing Vaccination Paid Leave

To encourage more widespread vaccinations, President Joe Biden recently highlighted a paid-leave tax credit for employers that provide full pay for employees who take time off to get and recover from a COVID-19 vaccination.  The tax credit is available to organizations with fewer than 500 employees, and covers up to $511.00 per day for each vaccinated employee. The tax …

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