Washington State Issues New Guidance on Corona Virus and High Risk Employees:
On July 29, 2020 , Governor Jay Inslee issued new guidance based on recommendations from the CDC regarding employees at risk for contracting Covid-19. The governor’s proclamation extends indefinitely, or until otherwise amended, protections provided to employees who are at high risk. High risk employees are defined as employees age 65 or older, employees who...
9 Williams Kastner Attorneys Named to 2020 Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Lists
Williams Kastner is pleased to announce that 9 attorneys have been named to Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2020. Receiving recognition are: Super Lawyers Seattle Daniel A. Brown, Member Jessie L. Harris, Managing Director Douglas A. Hofmann, Member Rodney L. Umberger, Member Sheryl J. Willert, Member Douglas J. Green, Of Counsel Portland S. Ward...
New PPP Legislation —Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010)
In the midst of national and global turmoil, President Trump signed into law new legislation on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The new law makes significant changes to the original provisions of the law. Employee Compensation and Business Expenses: Originally, any employer who obtained a PPP loan was required to use 75% of the funds...
Employee Retention Tax Credits in the Age of Coronavirus
On Sunday, May 17, in a previous client update note on the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan forgiveness, we informed you that the Department of Treasury (USDT) had provided an alternative time frame for consideration of what would be forgiven. That change permitted both paid and incurred eligible expenses as part of what could be...
More News on the PPP Loan Forgiveness
On Sunday, May 17, we issued an update on PPP loans which discussed the change in time frame which would be considered for loan forgiveness. At the same time that this new guidance was issued, the United States Department of the Treasury (USDT) issued additional guidance which clarifies under what circumstances loan forgiveness can be...
Governor Inslee Walks Back Contact Tracing Requirement for Restaurants
On May 15, 2020, within days of announcing a requirement that all restaurants would be required to obtain and maintain contact tracing information for patrons, Governor Inslee quickly withdrew this mandate after widespread concerns that such a requirement would violate patron’s privacy rights. Now, the Governor has indicated that it is only a recommendation that...
SBA Releases New Rules on How to Apply PPP Proceeds in Order to Get Forgiveness
On Friday, May 15, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, issued new guidelines on how employers who have received PPP loan proceeds can apply those loans and still be in compliance with the regulations that will be used to assess whether an employer has met the requirements to receive loan...
PPP Loans: Saved Before the Bell
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, the Treasury Department, after consultation with the Small Business Administration, issued new guidance regarding good faith certifications for businesses that received Paycheck Protection Loan (PPP) funds. After issuance of multiple statements starting in April, 2020 regarding the impact of accepting PPP funds if a business had access to other sources...
The Ever-Changing Landscape of PPP Loans
On April 23, 2020, in response to the hue and cry from many members of the public that large businesses such as the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse had received PPP funds, the Small Business Administration announced that large businesses with adequate sources of liquidity would not likely be entitled to the funds through this new program.[1]...
May 7, 2020 @ 11:00 AM
Labor & Employment and Insurance Coverage Webinar: Best Practices to Return to Work During COVID-19
Thursday, May 7th 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Register Now Join our Seattle partners, Sheryl Willert, and Jeff Wells from our Labor & Employment group along with Insurance group partner Eliot Harris in a webinar discussion on the challenges to employers and insurers as businesses return to work in the coming weeks and months. We will highlight...
New Proclamation from Washington Governor Establishes Employer Obligations to COVID-19 At-Risk Employees
On April 13, 2020, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-46 High Risk Employees- Workers’ Rights amending his previous February 29, 2020 Proclamation 20-05 which declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a public disaster. According to the new Proclamation, the threat of severe illness or death caused by COVID-19 to Washington State’s public and private sector workers who...
April 13, 2020 @ 11:00 AM
Webinar: COVID-19 Impact on Labor & Employment
Speakers Sheryl Willert Jefferey Wells Bryan Churchill April 13th 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Register Now Join our Seattle partners, Sheryl Willert and Jefferey Wells along with Portland Of Counsel, Bryan Churchill from Williams Kastner in a discussion on the current impact of COVID-19. Employers face a multitude of challenges as they navigate through COVID-19 and its effect on their workforce and businesses....