Attorneys at Law
Over the weekend, the federal Department of Labor (DOL) issued its newest round of guidance on Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits now available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The guidance letters are great resources, but here are the basics: Federal Pandemic Unemployment CompensationRead More
On April 1st, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new rule that regulates the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) and the paid leave under this new law that became available to employees starting on April 1st. This new rule clarified what records employers can request from employees asking forRead More
Yesterday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce published an updated Coronavirus Emergency Loan Guide for small businesses and sole proprietors. This is crucial because small businesses (less than 500 employees) can begin applying for payroll loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Paycheck Protection Program starting April 3rd. Independent contractors and otherRead More
The FFCRA goes into effect on April 1, 2020, and the Department of Labor (DOL) just issued a FFCRA poster (access it HERE) that employers are required to post in a conspicuous location. This means that employers should probably e-mail out the PDF poster to ensure compliance with the law’s notice requirements. Time forRead More
Last week, you probably felt inundated with COVID-19 information and updates. Everything – and I mean everything – seems to be evolving rapidly. On March 18, the President signed an emergency law (the “Family’s First Coronavirus Response Act”) to provide initial relief to workers in the wake of the pandemic. The law expands federal FMLARead More
Yesterday, the Maine Legislature passed emergency legislation that was aimed, in part, at temporarily extending eligibility for unemployment benefits to workers that have been impacted by COVID-19. The new law allows workers to become eligible for unemployment benefits immediately in situations that would not typically be covered. Workers can now apply for and receive unemploymentRead More
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a “pandemic.” Employers should mobilize and prepare now to ensure that they are equipped to handle the inevitable disruptions in the workplace that this relatively unprecedented pandemic may cause. Here are some things you should be thinking about: Tough QuestionsRead More
To ring-in the new year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new Form I-9 (which you can access HERE). The new I-9 was officially released on January 31, 2020, and employers should begin using it immediately. It contains minor changes to the form itself and the instructions. According to the USCIS,Read More
Happy New Year! We are officially 24-days into the modern 20s, and it’s time for your friendly lawyerly reminder that the Federal Department of Labor (DOL)’s “Final Rule” on overtime pay (that was announced in September of last year) took effect on January 1, 2020. Perhaps more importantly, Maine’s minimum wage went up to $12.00Read More
You may have read the news that on April 12, 2019, Maine enacted a new law called “An Act Regarding Pay Equality.” You can read the short law here. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont actually already have similar laws. What you need to know about the law is that it is now illegal in Maine forRead More
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