COVID-19 UPDATE: COVID-RELATED TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2020
Sunday evening, the President signed the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 (CTRA) into law. This legislation includes the long-awaited COVID-19 economic relief measures, in addition to federal appropriations for fiscal year 2021. The CTRA includes a number of...
COVID-19 UPDATE: RELIEF PACKAGE H.R. 133
On December 21, 2020, the United States Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133) which includes the long-awaited COVID-19 Relief Package. The bill has been sent to President Trump for his signature. In addition to federal appropriations for...
COVID-19 UPDATE: EEOC ISSUES GUIDANCE ON VACCINES
On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its much-anticipated guidance about the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccination and its interplay with various employment laws. The guidance consists of nine Questions and Answers, and can...
COVID-19: IOWA COMMISSIONER JOSEPH CORTESE POSTPONES IN PERSON HEARINGS UNTIL MARCH 19, 2021
On October 12, 2020, Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Joseph Cortese extended the postponement of in-person hearings by the commission from November 21, 2020 to March 19, 2021. This order was expected and is a continuation of the previous order issued by the...
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021, THE NEBRASKA MAXIMUM WEEKLY INCOME BENEFIT WILL BE $914.00
On January 1, 2021, the maximum weekly income benefit rate under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act will increase to $914.00. This amount will apply to work-related injuries and illnesses occurring on or after January 1, 2021. The new figure, $914.00, represents...
IMPACT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13950 ON CONTRACTOR DIVERSITY TRAINING
On September 22, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. The EO aims to “promote unity in the Federal workplace, and combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.” The EO covers federal...
NEBRASKA EMPLOYEE VOTING AND ELECTION WORKER LEAVE RIGHTS
With Election Day just around the corner, it is important to understand a Nebraska employee’s right to take leave to vote or serve as an election officer. This election year may prove to be an interesting one for employees who vote in person on Election Day. Long...
COVID-19 UPDATE: DOL’S FFCRA REVISED REGULATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EXCLUSION
On September 11, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued revised regulations related to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) after a federal court decision invalidated several initial regulatory provisions. The new regulations were posted in the...
CHAVEZ v. MS TECHNOLOGY, LLC: THE CONTINUED EVOLUTION IN THE DEFINITION OF WHAT A ‘SHOULDER’ IS UNDER SECTION 85.34(2)(n)
On September 30, 2020, the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, Joseph S. Cortese, II, issued another opinion further clarifying the definition of a ‘shoulder’ in Iowa. Chavez v. MS Technology, LLC. was issued on the heels of a prior recent opinion from the...
SIGNIFICANT INTERPRETATION BY IOWA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSIONER REGARDING THE SHOULDER AS A SCHEDULED MEMBER VS. THE BODY AS A WHOLE
On September 29, 2020, the Commissioner of the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Division, Joseph Cortese, II, issued an Appeal Decision in Mary Deng v. Farmland Foods, Inc. This Decision addressed the definition of a shoulder as a scheduled member injury. On July 1, 2017...