Author: Robert Hernandez

Treasury, IRS Issue Guidance on Reporting Qualified Sick and Family Leave Wages Paid

WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department and the IRS provided guidance in Notice 2020-54 to employers requiring them to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on Form W-2. Employers will be required...

20 July, 2020

Texas Wants $32 Million in Unemployment Benefits Back After Finding 46,000 People Were Overpaid

More than 46,000 Texans who lost their jobs in recent months were initially overpaid by the Texas Workforce Commission, which now wants $32 million in unemployment benefits back. “State law requires TWC to recover all unemployment benefits overpayments,” Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the state agency, said...

17 July, 2020

From The HR Support Center: What do we do if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19?

First, notify other employees of potential exposure to COVID-19, if any, in the workplace. You should tell them that someone was diagnosed with the illness, but you should not identify which employee is sick, even if employees ask so they can gauge their own risk....

16 July, 2020

FBI Sees Spike in Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims Filed Using Stolen Identities

The FBI has seen a spike in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims complaints related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic involving the use of stolen personally identifiable information (PII). U.S. citizens from several states have been victimized by criminal actors impersonating the victims and using the victims’ stolen...

15 July, 2020

What Are the Trends in Employee Benefits?

Smart companies are always taking a fresh look at the benefits they're offering. Here is what's trending and what you might want to consider adding. Student loan assistance According to the Federal Reserve, Americans currently owe $1.5 trillion in student loans — the largest amount of nonhousing...

14 July, 2020

From the HR Support Center: How You Can Support the Mental Health of Your Employees During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. People have experienced financial hardship, additional challenges with childcare and school cancellations, job loss, reduced hours, sickness, and grief. The future is uncertain, and the present is extra stressful. And to make matters worse,...

13 July, 2020

What Employers Should Do If an Employee Makes a Racist Statement Online

Given renewed national attention on issues of racial equity and justice, employees and customers might be more inclined to report incidents of racism they witness in person or on the internet. In this article, we cover some recommended practices for employers if they receive a...

10 July, 2020

Taxpayers can get last minute filing tips on IRS.gov

The July deadline for filing a 2019 tax return is near, but IRS tax help is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov. Whether filing a tax return, requesting an extension or making a payment, the IRS website can help taxpayers answer most questions and...

09 July, 2020

Second Stimulus Checks Could Be Sent As Early As August

Second stimulus checks could be sent as early as August. Here’s what you need to know. Second stimulus checks If Congress includes a second stimulus check, your second stimulus check could be sent as early as August. It’s all based on this congressional schedule. Here’s why: No stimulus...

08 July, 2020

Record jobs gain of 4.8 million in June smashes expectations; unemployment rate falls to 11.1%

KEY POINTS Nonfarm payrolls rose by 4.8 million in June, much better than the expected increase of 2.9 million. The unemployment rate fell to a crisis low of 11.1%, also better than the 12.4% estimate. Those on temporary layoff fell by 4.8 million in June...

06 July, 2020