COVID-19 Relief Package Signed into Law
As previously reported, on December 21, 2020, Congress passed the latest round of COVID-19 relief, which, among other things, amended the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and extended the tax credits associated with FFCRA-related leave into 2021 – and, as a result, made FFCRA-related leave voluntary in 2021.
While President Trump originally indicated he would sign the package, on December 22, 2020, he reversed course and stated that he may not sign the bill. However, on December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the COVID-19 relief package into law and as a result, extended the tax credits associated with FFCRA-related leave into 2021. As such, employers may now choose to continue providing paid FFCRA-related leave to employees and claim related tax credits until March 31, 2021, but employers are not required to do so. FFCRA-covered employers also are still prohibited from discriminating against, retaliating against, or terminating employees for using FFCRA-leave.
Related Resources:
- 12/22/20 - Congress Extends FFCRA Paid Leave...Sorta
Our Employment & Employee Relations Practice and COVID-19 Task Force are here to answer any of your questions related to FFCRA or the new COVID-19 relief package and will continue to keep you informed on new developments impacting employers.
Disclaimer: This post does not offer specific legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. You should not reach any legal conclusions based on the information contained in this post without first seeking the advice of counsel.