We are mindful that the primary issue on everyone’s mind right now is the COVID-19 and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), which was officially signed into law on March 18, 2020, with an effective date of April 1, 2020. We are available to assist you in navigating the workplace challenges presented by these issues and share herein the most common resources we are using to stay abreast of the relevant news and regulations.
- The Department of Labor has extensive Q&A on the FFCRA and related issues and updates it regularly: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions. Additional information is provided by DOL here: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus.
- Here is a helpful link from the IRS with, among other things, addresses Prompt Payment for the Cost of Providing Leave: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/covid-19-related-tax-credits-for-required-paid-leave-provided-by-small-and-midsize-businesses-faqs.
- The CDC has provided extensive guidance for reducing the spread of respiratory viruses in the workplace: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html.
- OSHA also provides guidance to employers to help navigate the safety and health-related issues of COVID-19 in the workplace: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/.
- The EEOC has addressed the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act to COVID-19 issues, including whether taking employees’ temperatures constitutes a medical examination:https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEEOC/bulletins/281e8d5.
- On March 27, the EEOC posted on its YouTube page a webinar that answered questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and federal anti-discrimination laws which may be accessed here: EEOC’s YouTube page.
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.