CARES Act – Paycheck Protection Program Loan

Healthcare, COVID-19, Labor and Employment, Firm Articles, Policy

On Friday, March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The CARES Act includes a forgivable small business loan program: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Under the PPP loan program, forgivable loans of up to $10 million will be available…

The Department of Treasury, IRS and Department of Labor Announce Plan to Implement Coronavirus-Related Paid Leave for Workers and Tax Credits for Small and Midsize Businesses to Swiftly Recover the Cost of Providing Coronavirus-Related Leave

Healthcare, COVID-19, Labor and Employment, Firm Articles

On March 20, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and U.S. Department of Labor (Labor) announced that employers with fewer than 500 employees can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related paid leave to their…

Arizona Increases Access to Unemployment Benefits for Those Facing Financial Hardship Because of COVID-19

Healthcare, COVID-19, Labor and Employment, Firm Articles

On March 20, 2020, Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order increasing access to unemployment benefits for those facing financial hardship because of COVID-19. These resources will be applied retroactively to hardships experienced after March 11, 2020. The Arizona Department of Economic Security will begin accepting benefits applications March 23, 2020. Unemployment insurance benefits may…

Coronavirus and Telecommuting

Firm Articles, Labor and Employment, COVID-19, Healthcare

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) encouraged employers to consider implementing telecommuting practices to reduce the risk of infection among their workforce.[1] Those employers who implement telecommuting practices should ensure they have an updated, relevant, written telecommuting agreement in place.  A strong telecommuting agreement will…

Employer Update: New Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification)

Labor and Employment, Firm Articles, Arizona Laws

On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published a new edition of Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification (the “New Form I-9”). See USCIS, Announcements: What’s New, USCIS I-9 Central (Jan. 31, 2020) (available at USCIS ). Although the changes to Form I-9 are relatively minor, all employers must use the…