Here's what you should know.
9.17.2020
SEC Expands Definition of Accredited Investor
In an effort to expand investment opportunities in private companies, on August 26, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted on August 26, 2020, amendments to the definition of an “accredited investor.” The amendments expand the…
9.16.2020
Don’t Forget to Update Your Anti-Discrimination Policies: Oregon Workplace Fairness Act Goes into Effect October 1, 2020
Although it may be the understatement of the century, a lot has happened in Oregon in 2020. An employer could be forgiven for overlooking that SB 726 – the Workplace Fairness Act (WFA) – goes into effect on October 1, 2020, nearly 16 months after it…
9.14.2020
FFCRA Update: DOL Revises Rules In Response to Court Ruling
As previously discussed, a New York court recently struck four provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The ruling left many employers outside of New York wondering the extent to which the decision impacted them…
9.10.2020
FFCRA Update: Court Strikes Four Employer-Friendly Rules
On August 3, 2020, a federal court in New York struck four key Department of Labor (DOL) employer-friendly rules implementing the Families Firsts Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Pursuant to the court’s ruling, more employees will be able to take…
9.1.2020
Treasury Releases Guidance on Temporary Deferral of Employee Payroll Taxes
On Friday, August 28, Treasury released Notice 2020-65, which provides guidance to employers that wish to implement President Trump’s Executive Order allowing a temporary deferral of employee-side Social Security taxes.
8.26.2020
What Does the Trump Order on Tax Deferrals Mean for Employers?
On August 8, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to allow employers a temporary deferral on withholding, collecting, and remitting certain employment taxes. This is not a tax forgiveness, at least at…
8.26.2020
Oregon OSHA Releases Proposed Temporary Workplace Safety Rules for COVID-19
On August 17, 2020, Oregon OSHA released its draft temporary rules aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon OSHA will accept public comment on the proposed rules through Monday, September 7, and will implement the temporary rules – which…
8.20.2020
Court Decision Favors Businesses Claiming Insurance Coverage for COVID-Related Losses
Companies across the state, and around the country, have suffered significant loss of income due to interruptions to their business caused by the spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing government-ordered closures. These companies have been disappointed…
8.18.2020
Learning Pods as a Pandemic-Era Education Choice – Where to Start
It's a sad fact that many parents with school-aged children are living in a state of anxiety, whether they are preparing for a fall of remote learning or bracing themselves to send their children back to in-person school. A supportive and safe…
7.14.2020
How Employers Should Handle Political Speech in the Workplace
During this time when we are seeing protests related to Black Lives Matter and COVID-19, and as political campaigns start to heat up, it can be expected that employers will start to hear more discussion of a political nature in the workplace…
6.23.2020
PPP Loan Updates: EZ Forgiveness Application, Updated Guidance, and More
On June 17, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) published an abbreviated “EZ” forgiveness application and accompanying instructions (“EZ Forgiveness Application”) for certain eligible borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program…
6.23.2020
Trump Proclamation Suspends Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of foreign nationals seeking certain nonimmigrant (temporary) work visas.
6.5.2020
PPP Update: Passage of Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (“Flexibility Act”), a bill that loosens the restrictions for obtaining loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The bill passed by…
5.22.2020
Reopening the Pacific Northwest: A Checklist for Employers
With Governors Brown and Inslee announcing their respective phased approaches to reopening the Oregon and Washington economies, employers need to start planning for how they will resume operations in a safe and legally-compliant manner given the…
5.22.2020
Market Conditions in Oregon and Washington Evidencing Uncertainty for PPP Loan Certification
In its continuously updated FAQ Guidance, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has advised that it will review the individual loan files for businesses that have received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan of more than $2 million (see…
5.15.2020
SBA Allows Some Borrowers to Increase PPP Loan Amounts, but You Must Act Fast!
On May 13, 2020, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) published an interim final rule (“IFR”) allowing certain partnerships that applied for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans but did not include partner income in “payroll costs” to amend…
5.14.2020
Was My PPP Loan "Necessary"? Updated SBA Guidance on Loan Certification
Over the past few weeks, many of our clients who have received Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans have expressed concern about whether they had adequate basis to certify that their PPP loan request was necessary to support ongoing business…
5.12.2020
New DOL Guidance on Joint Employers, Summer School Closures, and Domestic Workers
The Department of Labor released new Q&A guidance regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Among other things, the guidance provides new insight on various coverage issues relating to whether domestic service workers are covered…
5.11.2020
4 Ways PPP Loan Forgiveness Can Be Reduced
Reducing Employee Headcount – If the average number of a borrower’s full-time equivalent (FTE) employees during the eight-week period following origination is reduced compared to a pre-crisis comparison period, then the forgivable amount of your loan…
5.8.2020
Governor Releases Phase One Reopening Guidance for Oregon Employers
On May 7, 2020, Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released a series of guidelines and resources concerning the prerequisites to “Reopen Oregon.” Among the guidelines, and of immediate interest to many Oregon employers, is the…