Overview:
- OFCCP recently amended its Supply and Service Scheduling List
- On March 11, 2021, Biden signed the “American Rescue Plan of 2021
- On March 12, 2021, Biden’s DOL announced plans to rescind two “Final Rules”
Details:
- OFCCP recently amended its Supply and Service Scheduling List by removing all establishments selected to receive focused reviews and compliance checks. The list now includes approximately 500 establishments total scheduled for reviews, down from the original 2,250 establishments that were named in the FY2020 CSAL. The type of reviews remaining in the CSAL are Establishment Reviews, Functional Affirmative Action Program (FAAP) evaluations and Corporate Management Compliance Evaluations (CMCE). The agency published a FAQ stating that establishments who have compliance checks or focused reviews in progress from prior lists will still continue as scheduled. Construction Compliance Checks will also proceed as planned with no changes. Our experienced team remains ready to assist you if your business has been selected for any of these reviews by OFCCP.
- On March 11, 2021, Biden signed the “American Rescue Plan of 2021,” which among other things, extends again and expands the paid sick and FMLA leave tax credits created in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (“FFCRA”). It provides payroll tax credits for employers who voluntarily provide paid leave (providing FFCRA leave is no longer mandatory) through the end of September 2021. It also expands eligibility to state and local governments that provide this benefit. The controversial $15 per hour minimum wage boost proposed by Democrats did not make it into the final bill. Additional provisions include:
- An Increase in the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits for 2021 and 2022;
- Increased funding for the Secretary of Labor of $200,000,000 through September 30, 2023, approximately half of which is designated for OSHA—with at least $5,000,000 marked for enforcement activities related to COVID-19 at high-risk workplaces. correctional facilities. Along those lines, OSHA launched a national emphasis program to protect high-risk workers from COVID-19 hazards. The program also prioritizes actions against employers that retaliate against workers who complain about unsafe or unhealthful conditions.
- An extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) through September 6, 2021, as well as an increase in the number of weeks available to individuals who are not able to return to work safely (from 50 to 79 total weeks), and an extension of the federal supplemental unemployment benefit (FPUC) of $300.
- COBRA premium assistance.
- On March 12, 2021, Biden’s DOL announced plans to rescind two “Final Rules” recently issued at the end of the Trump administration.
Sheri joined Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. in December 2012 as a Human Resources Consultant. She provides HR consulting services to our customers on a wide range of issues, from specific projects to an ongoing outsourced solution of the human resources function. Sheri has two decades of experience in providing a comprehensive assessment of all areas of HR, including establishing and implementing policies and practices, contract transition efforts/onboarding, and investigations. Sheri’s experience covers a broad spectrum of compensation planning and analysis for total compensation projects, reasonableness assessments including executive compensation, compensation philosophy development, total reward strategies, benefits analysis, market pay and pay equity evaluations. She regularly supports clients with the analysis and mapping of labor categories and the preparation and analysis of wage calculations and supports clients in pricing disputes with DCAA. Sheri has a wealth of experience in navigating the many compliance challenges associated with Service Contract Act and Davis Bacon Act. She has been a valuable resource to our clients in all these areas. She stays abreast of the various requirements of the Department of Labor and, of great importance to government contractors, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, as well as other federal and state regulations impacting human resources. Professional Experience Prior to joining Redstone Government Consulting, Inc., Sheri served in various roles in the Human Resources arena. While employed by a mid-size government contractor she assisted with database development, recruiting, affirmative action planning and contract proposals. Sheri later became an Employment Specialist with one of the largest employers in Huntsville, where she assisted and led managers in the interpretation and documentation of the progressive disciplinary process, conducted employee investigations and allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge and employee disputes, conducted unemployment hearings and conducted new employee orientation. Sheri developed and presented management training, administered facility compensation plan, monitored staffing budgets and wrote job descriptions and handbook revisions.
About Redstone GCI
Redstone GCI is a consulting firm focused on fulfilling the needs of government contractors in all areas of compliance. With a singular mission to help contractors through the multiple layers of “red tape,” we allow contractors to focus on what they do best – support their mission with the U.S. Government. We are home to a group of consultants made up of GovCon industry professionals, CPAs, attorneys, and retired government audit and acquisition professionals.
Our focus and knowledge of audit and compliance functions administered by DCAA and DCMA will always be at the heart of what we do. However, for the past decade, we’ve strategically grown to support other areas of the government contractor back-office with that same level of focus and expertise. We’ve added expertise in contracts management, subcontract administration, proposal pricing, various software systems, HR and employment law, property administration, manufacturing, data analytics/reporting, Grant specialists, M&A, and many other areas. When we see a trend in the needs of contractors, we act to ensure we can provide the best expertise in the market to fulfill those needs.
One thing our clients can be certain of is that with the Redstone GCI Team in your corner, there is no problem too big and no issue too technical for our team to tackle.
Topics:
HR Huddle
