Publications

• DOL Issues Additional Guidance on Families First Coronavirus Response Act

  March 30, 2020

  The DOL issued its first guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) last week that provided helpful information about paid sick leave and the expanded FMLA leave. Since then, the DOL has added significantly more information to its guidance, which clarifies several very important issues regarding the implementation of the FFCRA. Below we […]

• CARES: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

  March 30, 2020

  In response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on American businesses, Congress passed the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (“CARES Act”). This $2 Trillion stimulus package is designed to offset the significant disruption businesses are facing as the country battles COVID-19. The following is a brief guide to the Small Business Administration components […]

• Residential Contractors Must Quickly Clean Up, Pick Up and Button Up Ongoing Residential Construction Projects

  March 27, 2020

  In the wake of Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Safe, Stay Home” Executive Order 2020-21, many residential contractors have been uncertain as to what steps they could take to “button up” ongoing projects. There has been a lot of confusion about whether existing projects could be finished, or whether all construction activities had to end immediately. The […]

• Agency Rulemaking in the Wake of COVID-19: How to Prepare

  March 27, 2020

  To say the regulated community’s situation is fluid during the time of COVID-19 would be an understatement. Questions swirl regarding compliance obligations, contract enforcement, agency enforcement, and more. At best, there is an inconsistent patchwork of agency responses. What will happen once the dust begins to settle? What will the new regulatory landscape look like? […]

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Q&A

  March 26, 2020

  What is the effective date of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”)? The DOL has indicated the effective date for FFCRA is April 1, 2020, and the paid leave provisions only apply to leave taken between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. According to what we’ve seen from the Department of Treasury, leave […]

• IRS RESPONSE TO COVID-19

  March 25, 2020

  IRS Notice 2020-18, which supersedes a more restrictive Notice 2020-17, provides taxpayers with relief concerning income tax filings and payments otherwise due on April 15, 2020.  For taxpayers with a due date for filing Federal income tax returns and making Federal income tax payments on April 15, 2020, the due date is automatically postponed until […]

• How Does Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order Impact Family Law?

  March 24, 2020

  Yesterday, Michigan families were preparing to comply and adapt to Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21 (“Stay Home, Stay Safe”).  The Michigan Supreme Court issued a Statement, and the State Bar of Michigan also issued an Advisory regarding the impact on divorce and family law.  To assist you in understanding how you are impacted, we have […]

• Employers: Navigate the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

  March 24, 2020

  Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) to help employers and workers to address the challenges of the COVID-19 Outbreak. Because circumstances have changed so quickly with the introduction of government-ordered shelter-in-place directives to workers and employers, it is not clear how well all of its parts function together.  We will focus […]

• Understanding Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order for Michigan

  March 23, 2020

  Today, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-21, which takes effect tomorrow, March 24, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. The Executive Order, which is to be “construed broadly to prohibit in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life,” mandates the following: All businesses must suspend operations if they require workers to leave their homes […]

• Administering a Special Needs Trust

  March 22, 2020

  When a special needs trust is needed, careful consideration should be given so beneficiaries who also are receiving government benefits are not impacted by an inheritance. A special needs trust provides for the beneficiary’s discretionary needs in a manner that is intended to avoid disqualification from government benefit programs.  So, properly administering a special needs […]