By now you may be completely inundated with information regarding insurance, risk management, recent laws passed and how to comply, what is in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) or the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Like you, we are trying to stay on top of this fast-moving wave of information and will continue to update this page to provide guidance and resources that we find helpful.
From an insurance standpoint, if there is any question as to whether you have a compensable claim, let us file it for you and then do our best to try to find coverage.
The CARES Act
What the “CARES Act” Paycheck Protection Program Means for Small Business
By Permanent Equity
Paycheck Protection Loan Guide
By the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
IRS FAQs: Employee Retention Credits under the CARES Act
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s site for Assistance under the CARES Act
Includes an overview of the lending program, additional information for lenders and borrowers, and the application for borrowers
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
What the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Means for Small Business
By Permanent Equity
New Coronavirus Relief Law Requires Paid Employee Leave
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
Published by the Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division
Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
This is the poster that the Department of Labor is requiring you to post in regards to the FFCRA. Please print and place alongside all of your other employment postings.
IRS FAQs: FFCRA Tax Credits for Small and Midsize Businesses
Insurance, Risk Management, and Compliance
How Coronavirus Could Impact Your Business Insurance
This guide gives an overview of how your property & casualty coverages may respond.
Protecting Workers From Coronavirus
The CDC has issued interim guidance to help employers plan and respond to COVID-19. This resources summarizes those and gives additional best practices. Full interim guidance from the CDC located here.
Coronavirus in the Workplace — Compliance Issues for Employers
Even though we are dealing with unique circumstances, employers still must comply with OSHA, ADA, and FMLA. Here’s how to think about those laws in the context of COVID-19. Click here for a more in depth overview of OSHA Guidance on COVID-19.
COVID-19 Considerations: Termination and Furlough Issues
By Nick Karls, Attorney, VP Regulatory and Legislative Strategy, Hays Companies
This is an overview of compliance considerations in the unfortunate event that you need to terminate or furlough your employees.
Disclaimer: This is meant to be an overview and not legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, please consult your legal counsel.
Miscellaneous Resources
An Employer’s Guide to Managing Remote Employees
Includes editable sample policies, procedures, and templates.
South Carolina Employment and Workforce COVID-19 Resource Hub
A central place where you can find the latest info from OSHA, DHEC, Press Releases, notices from Governor McMaster, etc. Thanks to the York County Regional Chamber for pointing this resource out (they also have a ton of great resources to check out).
State Action on Coronavirus
While there is a lot of attention on the federal government and the laws that they are working on, many states are passing their own legislation as well (South Carolina included). Visit this page at NCSL.org to keep up to date with the latest laws being passed in your state.
Department of Health and Environmental Control (South Carolina)’s Coronavirus Site
Department of Health and Human Services (North Carolina)’s Coronavirus Site
The Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Coronavirus Site
We will add more resources as they become available.
Working from Home – Think about the Cyber Risks
If your team is working at home, be aware of your increased cyber security risks. One of the most common issues we have seen in the past couple of years are ransomware attacks, which are often caused by an employee clicking on a link in an email that otherwise looks legitimate. Bad actors are already capitalizing on our need to stay up-to-date on the Coronavirus spread and sending out these phishing emails. Because employees can’t confirm the validity of the email as easily in a non-office setting, they may be more susceptible to opening one by mistake. Here are a few things to look out for:
- The email is unexpected or seems “off”
- It appears to come from someone in your company, but the “reply to” address doesn’t match the “from” (hover your mouse over the sender’s name to check)
- The email asks you to take action—like click a link or download an attachment
Every business will approach their disaster plan differently, so if you have any questions about your specific situation and the new risks you might be facing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Internally, Peoples First is making preparations to ensure that we can continue daily operations in the safest manner possible. We are prepared to support you and advocate for you during this time.
