Employers to cover 100% of COBRA costs for employees:

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARPA contains regulations relating to COBRA and an employer’s responsibility to its employees.

Specifically, ARPA requires: Employers to cover 100% of the employee’s cost of continuing health coverage under COBRA for up to six months if an employee has lost health coverage due to (a) a reduction in force or (b) the employee was involuntarily terminated. Basically, an employee terminated for any reason, other than gross misconduct, will fall within this provision. The COBRA subsidy period covered by ARPA is from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021. It applies to all employees who are or would’ve been covered during this six month period. It is not applicable if an employee is entitled to any other health insurance coverage.

For more information regarding your rights to the COBRA subsidy or to find out if you are entitled to additional benefits from your company due to a recent termination and/or receipt of a severance package, contact Sheree Donath at sheree@donathlaw.com.

Employer’s are required to give employees PAID time off to get the Covid-19 vaccine:

New York employers are required to provide employees time off to get a Covid-19 vaccination. This requirement became effective on March 13, 2021 and currently runs through December 31, 2022. The vaccination leave law applies to all private employers regardless of their size.

Per the new vaccination leave law:

•  entitles employees to paid time off of up to four (4) hours for each vaccine injection. Employees are entitled to paid time off of up to four (4) hours for each dose of the vaccine they receive (i.e. so if the employee gets a Covid-19 vaccine that requires two doses and the employee has to go twice to be vaccinated, they are entitled to up to eight (8) hours of paid time off).
• prohibits employers from requiring employees to use PTO or sick leave or any other leave
• requires that employees be paid their regular rate of pay.
• doesn’t affect rights under a collective bargaining agreement that may allow for additional time off.
• prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the vaccination law.

For more information regarding the vaccination law or updating employment policies, contact Sheree Donath at sheree@donathlaw.com or by clicking here.

Coming Soon  … legalizing recreational marijuana in New York’s effect on the workplace.

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