Author: Robert Hernandez

Common Errors to Avoid When Filing for Advance Payment of Employer Credits

Employers who are filing Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19 should read the instructions carefully and take their time when completing this form to avoid mistakes. Using a reputable tax preparer – including certified public accountants, enrolled agents or other knowledgeable tax...

04 May, 2020

From the HR Support Center: How Do I Make a Telecommuting Policy?

Although some employers will be comfortable sending everyone home with their laptop and saying, go forth and be productive, most will want to be a little more specific. A good telecommuting policy will generally address productivity standards, hours of work, how and when employees should...

01 May, 2020

How To Deal With Stress During Quarantine

During this pandemic, coping with the disruption in your normal routine may be stressful. Isolation may leave you feeling like you have no control. You may feel cut off from the rest of the world and experience cabin fever, leading to irritability or emotional exhaustion. There...

30 April, 2020

The Difference Between a Furlough and a Layoff

The last thing employees and employers want is lost jobs. It means financial uncertainty for everyone involved, which is why most employers do everything they can to prevent downsizing or prolonged closures. However, reality sometimes forces the situation, as is the case with the coronavirus disease...

29 April, 2020

Second Round Of PPP SBA Loans Now Available

The race is on. The Small Business Administration (SBA) started taking applications for the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as of 10:30 a.m. on Monday (April 27). President Donald Trump signed the $484 billion COVID-19 rescue bill on Friday (April 24). It includes $310 billion in new money...

28 April, 2020

Treasury, IRS Unveil Online Application to Help With Economic Impact Payments

WASHINGTON – Working with the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service unveiled the new Get My Payment with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposit information. With an initial round of more than 80 million Economic Impact Payments...

27 April, 2020

We are an essential business and an employee is refusing to work as they say it’s not safe. Can I discipline them?

We are an essential business where there's a shelter-in-place rule and an employee is refusing to work as they say it's not safe. Can I discipline them? This is certainly a difficult situation to be in. Extreme caution is recommended in disciplining or terminating an employee...

24 April, 2020

DOL Relaxes In-Person I-9 Inspection Requirements

The physical presence requirement of the Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9, requires that employers, or an authorized representative, physically examine, in the employee’s physical presence, the unexpired document(s) the employee presents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents to complete the Documents fields in Form I-9’s Section 2. On March 20,...

23 April, 2020

What Is Your Business Continuity Plan?

We are well aware now that a pandemic can incapacitate some employees and cause us all to self-quarantine. This is a major disruption of normal operations, and yes, large numbers of employees are working from home. Your continuity plan should: Establish a strategy that enables employees...

22 April, 2020

Overview of Unemployment Benefits Changes Under the CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020, and is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package designed to support individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act is important because it provides federal dollars at this time...

21 April, 2020