• - A $500 billion loan program for businesses - The biggest sticking point between Democrats and Republicans throughout the negotiations was $500 billion worth of emergency loans both for large businesses and municipalities grappling with the coronavirus outbreak. The current agreed-to version contains additional oversight provisions.

• - “Unemployment insurance on steroids” - Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday afternoon that unemployment insurance will be expanded to grapple with a new surge in claims, calling it “unemployment insurance on steroids.” The new bill will increase unemployment insurance by $600 per week for four months. This money is in addition to what states pay as a base unemployment salary. This benefit would extend to gig economy workers, freelancers, and furloughed workers who are still getting health insurance from their employers but are not receiving a paycheck.

• - Expanded funds for hospitals, medical equipment, and health care worker protections - In a statement, Schumer reported to Senate Democrats that the latest bill will contain $150 billion for hospitals treating coronavirus patients. Of that money, $100 billion will go to hospitals, $1 billion will go to the Indian Health Service, and the remainder will be used to increase medical equipment capacity.

• - Increased aid to state and local governments - Schumer also said about $150 billion of federal money would be allocated for state and local governments who are dealing with the impacts of the crisis in their local communities, including $8 billion for tribal governments.

• - Direct payments to adults below a certain income threshold - The legislation would include a one-time $1,200 check that would be sent to most adults making $75,000 or less annually, according to past tax returns. A $500 payment would also be sent to cover every child in qualifying households. The final policy marks a significant change from the direct payments initially proposed by Republicans, which would have given less to many individuals who do not have taxable income. It now includes the majority of adults who are under the $75,000 threshold and phases the payment out as people’s incomes increase.

• - Loans to small businesses - There would be $367 billion in the bill aimed at providing loans for small businesses.
  
  

US Chamber Summary of Phase 3 Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Package Here

U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Introduces loan forgiveness plan to support small businesses hurt by coronavirus pandemic. See It Here

U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Helps introduce updated emergency paid leave; small business support legislation in response to worsening coronavirus crisis. Read more here

Gov. Evers Issues Emergency Order on Unemployment Benefits. See the full Emergency Order here.

Gov. Tony Evers issued Emergency Order #11, suspending several utility-related administrative rules. The order can be found here.

“Our first concern is the health and well being of our staff, members, and volunteers. While we are disappointed to postpone our upcoming events, we will continue to serve and support our members and Wisconsin’s veteran business community through this crisis.” - Saul Newton, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

We will postpone the following events for the coming month:
La Crosse Chamber Muster on March 24
Milwaukee Chamber Muster & Nonprofit Roundtable on March 26
Janesville Veterans in the Workforce on March 31
Brookfield Veterans in the Workforce on April 9

Rescheduled dates will be announced once they are confirmed. We are working on online learning opportunities in the meantime. More information to follow.
Full Press Release Here

Message From Saul Newton on how the WI Veterans Chamber can help Here 

Here are resources to help you plan at work, home and at commercial establishments.

Governor Tony Evers COVID-19 Website Information Here

CDC Poster in English, Spanish

MRA- Pandemic Toolkit

Importance of Flattening the Curve - A Visual On Why Self-Quarantine Can Help

Keep informed daily on COVID-19 Cases & Wisconsin Outbreaks

Keeping the Home Safe Resource
Keeping the Workplace Safe Resource
Keeping the Commercial Establishments Safe Resource

CLOSURES: Wis. schedule changes for events, cities, schools and universities- NBC 15
Racine County Closures

Coronavirus Relief fund details – From Paycor HR Center of Excellence

• - Cash payments of up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples and $500 per child, reduced if an individual makes more than $75,000 or a couple makes more than $150,000
• - A $350 billion fund for small businesses to mitigate layoffs and support payroll
• - $500 billion available to the Treasury Department to make loans, loan guarantees and investments to or in industries damaged by the pandemic
• - Requires that recipients of loans do not buy back stock during the time the loan is outstanding, and that executives or employees who made more than $425,000 in 2019 do not get a raise for the next two years
• - Requires group health plans and insurance providers to cover without cost-sharing any coronavirus preventive services
• - An employee retention tax credit
• - $240 billion in health-care relief
• - $75 billion in aid for hospitals
• - $20 billion for health care for veterans
• - $20 billion for emergency public transportation relief
• - $10 billion for airport relief
• - $4.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• - $50 billion in relief to airlines in the form of loans or grants, and another $8 billion for cargo carriers
• - $17 billion in relief for unspecified “businesses critical to maintaining national security”
• - Strengthened unemployment insurance, which could potentially add $600 per week for up to four months on top of what a state would give beneficiaries.
  
  

Families First Coronavirus Response Act
What is it?
The FFCRA was enacted to help individuals, families and businesses affected by COVID-19. The law provides paid leave for employees that need to take time off work as a result of the coronavirus                  

When does the law take effect? Immediately.

We are a small employer; will we be impacted by the change?
Required: The legislation requires employers with under 500 employees to give sick leave and paid family medical leave to eligible employees.  
Opt-Out: If you have less than 50 employees you are included but have the option to not participate if providing leave would impact the business.

Are part-time employees eligible?
Yes. Part-time workers are to be paid the amount they typically earn in a two-week period.

What is the required Emergency Sick Leave for the employee?
Qualifying employers are to provide employees two weeks of paid sick leave:

1. 1) If they are ill with COVID-19
2. 2) Seeking a diagnosis for COVID-19
3. 3) If the employee is caring for sick family members due to COVID-19

What’s been changed regarding the Family Medical Leave Act?
Families can utilize FMLA to receive 12 weeks of job protected leave, with 10 weeks being paid leave, if caring for children whose schools are closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable because of coronavirus. Eligible employees are those who have worked 30 days before the effect of the coronavirus.

How much money is required to pay employees on leave?
Employers are required to pay two weeks of sick pay of the full amount they are usually paid, up to a maximum of $511 a day or $5,110 total. Employees caring for a sick family member or a child whose school or day care is closed, you earn two-thirds of your usual pay, up to a daily limit of $200 or a total of $2,000.

Am I permitted to give my employees more time off with pay?
Yes, but the credit only applies the quantified earnings amounts.

Is the paid leave permanent?
No. As of now it expires December 31, 2020.

If I am forced to lay my people off, how will this impact unemployment?
Paycor is building a state-by-state tracker to keep organizations informed on updates as they occur. We will notify you once this is available

What type of assistance is available to offset the emergency leave expense for employers?
To help employers pay for these requirements there is a refundable payroll tax credit for 100 percent of qualified paid sick leave wages, which is permitted against the employer portion of federal payroll taxes. Also, there is a refundable tax credit for 100 percent of qualified family leave wages paid by an employer, which is allowed against the employer portion of federal taxes.

Agency guidance regarding how and when the credit will be reported have not been released by the Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. Department of Labor/Wage & Hour Division Resources on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• - Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
• - Federal Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
• - Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – Frequently Asked Questions

Veterans Access will be hosting a Virtual Job Fair.

May 20, 2020 at 1000AM CST
No cost to candidates seeking gainful employment. The virtual job fairs present an opportunity for employers to meet, interview, and hire on the spot.

Links:
Veterans Access – www.vetsaccess.com
Virtual Job Fair – www.vetsaccess.vfairs.com

Veterans have multiple resources for COVID-19 information - Resources Here

- Looking to find a remote job? - Check out our Member Resources page here
- Follow the local VA guidelines on visitors to protect the older veterans who are at risk for COVID-19- CNN Article Here

Veterans Business Outreach Center/ WWBIC
- If you are a veteran business owner, contact VBOC and get on their email list so you can get updates on federal/national/regional opportunities and announcements.
- For any business that is currently a WWBIC loan client, WWBIC has relief measures in place for those existing clients.
- For any clients not a WWBIC loan client, WWBIC is working on putting together new funding programs; these are in the works.
-WWBIC continues to have online classes/webinars for education.

WI Department of Veteran Affairs Updates Here 

VA resources here

Department of Defense-related coronavirus updates and impacts Here