Breakfast Briefing: Impact of the American Rescue Plan Act and Employee Handbook Updates – Is this a time to look at what you are saying?

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, many employers are rethinking how to communicate the new legal issues to employees as well as their benefit plan changes required under the law. This has not only implicated the business plan of many companies but also its employee communications through the handbook. Employee handbooks have long been the backbone of communications with employees on the expectations of them in the orderly operation of the business. However, in recent years many times the handbook has become a vulnerability due to generalized language or terms that the enforcing governmental agencies view as “discriminatory” in the workplace.

Our presenters will discuss the American Rescue Plan Act and the choices available to employers in its implementation. They will address how to best formulate an employee handbook that minimizes the potential for liability but communicates expectations (and consequences) that may arise from noncompliance. They will also discuss an audit format to help employers evaluate the state of their current employee disclosures and the “hidden” vulnerabilities that may be lurking in the employee information. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 just passed and attendees will be updated on the changes and extensions that affect employers with regard to leave and payroll tax credits.