Newsletter February 2014
I hope you have been surviving this most recent snow storm we endured! I heard it called Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and Snowzilla. I called it the commencement of the countdown to Spring! I am confident that you all found a way to enjoy the snow, whether it was building a snowman with your kids or watching your favorite movie with a fire roaring in the background. What happened when you realized that there was absolutely no way you could get down your driveway? Did you find yourself wondering what the inclement weather protocol was for your office? Did you then discover that you do not have an inclement weather policy in your employee handbook? As a small business owner myself, I struggle with the balance of making sure everyone stays safe and the need for productivity. If you do not have an up-to-date employee handbook that includes an inclement weather policy let us know so we can help alleviate some of the stress that comes along with this winter weather.
FMLA is another topic I get phone calls about when bad weather begins to set in. If one of your employees is currently using FMLA leave or you yourself are taking FMLA leave, does your snow-induced office closure count towards the 12 workweeks of FMLA an employee is entitled to?Well as all attorneys will tell you, “It depends.” Give us a call if you have a FMLA question yourself and we will be happy to answer it.
Take a look at our website where our blog has been updated with topics consisting of pending legislation and changes in small business healthcare compliance. Stay warm and remember only 19 more days of winter!
Sincerely,
Karen McKeithen Schaede Attorney at Law, PLLC
Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2014
Currently, FMLA only applies to those businesses that have at least 50 employees. This new legislation H.R. 3999: Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2014, proposes to expand FMLA to those businesses that have more than 25 employees working within 75 miles of one another.Not only would this new legislation expand those businesses covered by FMLA, it would also increase the benefits available. The additional benefits would include 24 hours per year of unpaid Parental Involvement and Family Wellness leave.
Delay for Obamacare Coverage
Yet again, the Federal Government announced another delay in a compliance date for small businesses… In addition to postponing the compliance date, an announcement of weakened requirements for complying with the law was made. Small businesses that employ between 50 and 100 full-time workers are now exempt from complying with the mandate until 2016.