News and Analysis
Ohio Overpaid $2.1 Billion in COVID-19 UC Benefits
May 21, 2021Ohio has distributed more than $2 billion in overpayments via state and federal unemployment compensation programs during COVID-19, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported this week.
According to Cleveland.com (subscription), State Auditor Keith Faber says unemployment system officials withheld the extent of the problem from his office and showed no urgency in installing anti-fraud measures. The state is now working with federal law enforcement in an attempt to recover illegitimate payments.
Over the last 60 weeks, Ohio has distributed more than $9.8 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 997,000 Ohioans, and more than $10.8 billion in federal pandemic payments to more than one million Ohioans, the AP reports. 5/19/2021
Survey: Employers Plan on Adding New Benefits
May 21, 2021More than a year into the pandemic, more employers expect to offer new employee benefits, such as extra protection against major hospital bills, backup childcare and eldercare, and even pet insurance, according to a new national survey.
Axios reports that the survey, conducted by Willis Towers Watson, “shows employers responding to employees’ desire for security.” Overall, 94% of the employers that responded to the survey indicated they expect voluntary benefits to hold great importance over the next three years.
To address strategies that businesses can employ now to retain and attract talent, the OMA will host a June 17 webinar, “Navigating Workforce Uncertainties as We Re-Emerge.” Presented by OMA Connections Partner MCM, this event is free for OMA members. 5/19/2021
Ohio Is Ending Supplemental Unemployment Payments, Restoring Work-Search Requirement
May 14, 2021Gov. Mike DeWine this week announced that beginning June 26, Ohio will no longer participate in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program that provides an extra $300 per week. The governor said the additional payments are discouraging some Ohioans from returning to work, thereby hurting the state’s economy.
The OMA thanked Gov. DeWine for listening to the business community and taking action to address the workforce shortage.
Also this week, Gov. DeWine announced that beginning May 23, the state will require work-search activities for all residents who apply for unemployment benefits. Work-search activities include applying for a job, attending resume-writing courses, or creating and maintaining re-employment plans on OhioMeansJobs.com. 5/14/2021
DOL to Withdraw Trump’s Independent Contractor Rule
May 7, 2021This week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed it is withdrawing the Trump administration’s rule to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
According to a summary from Bricker & Eckler, the OMA’s general counsel, the DOL has not yet indicated whether it intends to further pursue standardizing the test for determining independent contractor status under the FLSA. Bricker asserts that employers should continue complying with state and local laws regarding independent contractor classifications. 5/5/2021
What Employers Should Know About Vaccination Initiatives
May 7, 2021The OMA’s general counsel Bricker & Eckler will host a free webinar on May 14 to discuss what employers need to know before implementing a COVID-19 vaccine initiative. The webinar will address privacy concerns, tips on implementing a vaccination incentive, and other key issues. 5/3/2021
Webinars Will Cover Array of Employment Law Issues
May 7, 2021OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward will host a series of free webinars to focus on important labor and employment issues. Separate one-hour webinars — beginning this month and continuing through early August — will address:
- Workplace violence and conflict;
- Common HR pitfalls;
- Employee mental health and burnout;
- Employee handbooks after COVID-19;
- Arbitration agreements; and
- Responding to federal agencies.
CLE and HRCI credit will be available. Learn more and register. 5/6/2021
U.S. Labor Department Looks to Boost Enforcement
April 30, 2021According to OMA Connections Partner Roetzel, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is looking to reverse many of the Trump-era initiatives and rules. Reversals include eliminating the Trump administration’s practice of only seeking actual damages (vs. double damages) from employers, as well as incentives for employers to self-report wage and hour violations. Read more. 4/28/2021
EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection Is Open
April 30, 2021The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection is now open. The deadline for submitting data for both years is Monday, July 19. Employers should begin preparing in anticipation of the filing deadline. For guidance, see this article from OMA Connections Partner Vorys. 4/27/2021
Webinar: Employment Regs After Biden’s First 100 Days
April 30, 2021On Tuesday, May 4, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips will host a webinar to review the Biden administration’s first 100 days and its efforts to remake workplace laws. This interactive webinar will review some of the most dramatic changes that have occurred since Jan. 20, while examining possible upcoming changes. Register here. 4/28/2021
Details on Employer Tax Credits for Vaccination PTO
April 23, 2021President Joe Biden’s this week called on all employers to provide employees with paid time off to get their COVID-19 vaccinations or to recover from the vaccine’s side effects. As a result, the IRS has published further details of the tax credits available. Meanwhile, here are Ohio’s vaccine provider locations. 4/22/2021