A day after reporting that Texas employees rejecting a return to suitable work for fear of contracting COVID-19 could lose unemployment benefits, Govenor Abbott announced that the TWC has promulgated rules allowing employees to continue receipt of benefits even if rejecting a return to suitable work. According to the Governor’s press release:

Each unemployment insurance

On April 1, 2020, the DOL issued its regulations on the paid leave provision of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (i.e., the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act).  While there is a lot to digest in the rule, the most significant aspect is the definition of and

As the paid leave provisions of the FFCRA take effect today, many employers are asking what information they should maintain so they can claim the tax credits that are available to pay for this leave.  Luckily, the IRS has come to the rescue describing the information that should be maintained.  The Service’s guidance explains that:

On March 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor published a Field Assistance Bulletin and additional answers to what it anticipates are Frequently Asked Questions about the FFCRA’ s posting obligations.

The Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-1 announced that the Department would take a nonenforcement position during the first 30 days when the Act is

The U.S. Department of Labor published Questions and Answers on the soon-to-be effective Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act.  The new guidance offers guidance on some important questions such as:

    1. How do I know if my business is under the 500-employee threshold for coverage?
    2. How does a small

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Corona Virus Response Act.  The Families First Act requires small and midsized employers to provide paid sick leave benefits and expanded FMLA leave to employees needing time away from work due to COVID-19 reasons.  While the Act provide others benefits, the FMLA Expansion Act and

On March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Emergency Paid Leave Act of 2020. The Bills, if passed by the Senate, will provide: paid sick leave and unemployment benefits to employees taking leave as a result of COVID-19; expand FMLA eligibility and qualifying reasons for taking