Human Resources Blog

On top of everything this year, our country has lost some of the most inspiring people – from incredible athlete Kobe Bryant to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman – and this weekend, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. RBG was a feminist icon and champion for women’s rights, accomplishing so much in her lifetime. Continuing her legacy, the House has approved a bill that if passed by the Senate, would require employers to reasonably accommodate pregnant workers and employees with pregnancy-related conditions. RBG’s replacement will be a major point of contention in the next few weeks leading up to the election, not to mention the three Supreme Court cases with oral arguments scheduled to take place in November and December.

The Federal Main Street Lending Program has experienced delays due to the confusion of the application process, so the Department of Treasury has released additional guidance for FAQs. They have also posted this information as it relates to non-profits that we can share upon request. Similarly, the state of Louisiana has had to simplify the application for its Main Street lending program to allow more businesses to access these funds. Our local government is facing its share of technical difficulties after over seven thousand people accidentally received unemployment checks that were not supposed to.

Last week, SHRM sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) highlighting many of the specific challenges and frustrations that confront HR professionals as they comply with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Normally, we don’t hear back from the administration with constructive feedback, but hopefully, these issues will be addressed.

Furthermore, long-awaited IRS guidance answers questions about how employers should implement the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, signed into law last December, seeking to expand retirement plan coverage for U.S. workers.

Earlier today, we sent out an email urging you to register for tomorrow’s inaugural “Dialed in with Delta” interactive webinar, featuring expert panelists who will be providing insight on the controversial start of the school year from the legal, political, educational, and mental health perspective. Please tune in if you can!

Lastly, as of the 4pm update, Tropical Storm Beta is forecasted to make landfall this evening into the early hours of tomorrow, just south of Port Lavaca, TX. Please be aware of your local flood warnings and advisories.