Employers can mandate employees get the COVID-19 vaccine subject to reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, medical conditions, or a sincerely held religious belief. But many employers instead want to offer bonuses and other incentives to vaccinated employees. The EEOC has confirmed that employers may offer vaccination incentives to employees as long as the incentives are “not so substantial as to be coercive.” Employers may offer these incentives to employees to provide documentation or other confirmation of vaccination from a third party, such as a pharmacy or health department. Request only proof of vaccination; be clear you do not [...]

Registrations begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 8 a.m. CDT and the application portal is scheduled to open on Monday, May 3, 2021, at 11am CDT. For the first 21 days, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Apply ASAP! Here’s the link to register with the SBA. If you prefer to listen, check out this webinar for a step by step guide. Follow along as Jeff completes the application (available here.). Below is an overview but many questions are answered here [...]

Current PPP Funding May Not Make It To May 31, 2021 SBA has indicated funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) will likely dry up in late April … more than a month before the program’s scheduled expiration on May 31, 2021. Borrowers interested in securing a First Draw PPP Loan or a Second Draw PPP Loan should move quickly, before funds are exhausted. Contact your bank or credit union now or let us know if you need guidance. What you need to get started: If a sole business owner, you will need your filed Form 1040, Sch C [...]

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program (SVOG) is expected to provide over $16 billion in economic relief to target industries. The portal for SVOG application will open on Thursday, April 8, 2021. While the SVOG program has not yet opened for applications, SBA has prepared a Checklist to help grant applicants gather required information. Make sure to prepare grant applications carefully.