COVID-19 Resources 

This page is to provide assistance to our clients and their employees and help navigate the new laws and challenges during this COVID-19 pandemic, we have posters and other information on some of the recent COVID-19 related legislation.

We understand that this can be very confusing and overwhelming during this time. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.  You can reach us at (631) 794-7400 or by email info@compasswfs.com.

Please follow our blog for more up to date information.

New Information added for April 2021

Federal

On March 12, 2021, President Biden signed into the law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which includes the following provisions related to the workplace:

  1. Employers to provide a 100% subsidy to cover COBRA premiums through September 30, 2021 for former employees no longer employed due circumstances related to the pandemic. Employers can recoup this expense through a refundable tax credit against their Medicare payroll tax liability.
  2. The 2021 contribution limit for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) is increased to $10,500 for single taxpayers and to $5,250 for married individuals filing separately for plan years beginning after December 31,2020 and ending before January 1, 2022.
  3. The federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefit of $300/week is extended through September 6, 2021, extends benefits to individuals that exhausted UI benefits to September 6, 2021 (from 24 weeks up to 53 weeks), and increases the total number of weeks of UI eligibility from 50 weeks to 79 weeks for individuals who do not qualify for regular benefits.
  4. The employer-provided paid sick and family leave previously established under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the available employer tax credit for the paid leave are extended through September 30, 2021, except that granting this leave is no longer mandatory but voluntary on the part of the employer. ARPA also resets every employee’s FFCRA paid sick leave entitlement for another 10 days as of April 1, 2021.
  5. FFCRA paid leave qualifying wages provided by a covered employer to employees for which the FFCRA tax credit may be taken as of April 1 have been expanded to include the following absences:
  • the employee is seeking or awaiting the results of a diagnostic test for, or a medical diagnosis of, COVID-19 and such employee has been exposed to COVID-19 or the employee’s employer has requested such test or diagnosis;
  • the employee is obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination; or
  • the employee is recovering from any injury, disability, illness, or condition related to a COVID-19 vaccination. These expanded reasons apply to both paid sick leave and paid family leave.

6.    The employee retention credit from the CARES Act is extended through December 31, 2021.

New York

Effective March 12, 2021, all public and private employers in New York State must provide their employees with up to four (4) hours of paid leave to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees receiving two-dose vaccines are entitled to up to four (4) hours of paid leave for each injection, for a potential total of eight (8) hours of paid leave. This paid time off may not be charged against an employee’s other paid leave entitlements, including state-mandated paid sick leave.

In addition, Governor Cuomo has announced that, effective April 1, 2021, individuals entering New York State from other U.S. states or territories will no longer be required to quarantine upon their return to New York.  The Governor stressed that international travelers returning to New York are still subject to the mandatory quarantine requirements previously established.

Older Information

As businesses continue to reopen, New York State has issued industry-specific guidance, which includes detailed safety measures that businesses must implement prior to reopening, and once onsite business operations resume.  Prior to reopening, all non-essential businesses must complete the following compliance steps:

  1. Read its industry’s particularized reopening guidelines and have its owner or agent submit an online affirmation confirming that the business will reopen and operate in accordance with the State’s guidelines, which includes “daily health screening practices.” These guidelines, and affirmation, for Phase 2 non-essential businesses can be found here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/offices-interim-guidance.pdf.
  2. Create a written business reopening safety plan and conspicuously post it in the workplace.  Businesses can use this template, provided by New York State, to create a safety plan,https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/NYS_BusinessReopeningSafetyPlanTemplate.pdfor use our custom safety plan template . Businesses may also create their own safety plan in accordance with NYS and industry best practice guidelines.

We have developed critical tools to support business to reopen successfully including:

  • Custom Safety Plans
  • Return to Work Surveys
  • Automated daily health affirmations for employees

Contact us if you would like assistance with safety plans, return to work surveys or daily health affirmations.

Resources for Re-Opening Your Doors:

Work Share Programs:

State Links for Work Share Programs:

CDC Posters & Information

New Jersey

New York

State Unemployment Information

California

New York State

State Unemployment Links

Other Links & Information

Resources for Re-Opening Your Doors:

Work Share Programs:

State Links for Work Share Programs:

CDC Posters & Information

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

New Jersey

New York

State Unemployment Information

California

New York State

State Unemployment Links

Other Links & Information