Employers see hope in relief bill

In addition to stimulus checks, extended unemployment benefits, and tax credits for children, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides substantial federal money and resources, giving hope to employers that the economy will soon reopen. The Act also has a number of provisions directly affecting employers and employees.

Help for ailing economy

Perhaps the most significant ARPA provision for employers, along with the rest of the country, is funding for national efforts to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being directed toward expanding the number of vaccine doses and providing material assistance to states and localities to bring order and stability to their vaccine distribution systems. As the number of vaccinated Americans grows substantially, the consumer-dominated economy can revive.

Additional funding is directed at reopening schools by helping teachers and other school employees to get vaccinated and supporting school maintenance efforts. Most observers recognize the economy can’t fully reopen and return to health as long as parents are unable to send their children safely and securely to school.

Paid leave available

An ARPA provision targeted specifically at employers provides a tax credit for paid leave made available to employees who need time off to get vaccinated or because they or one of their children has COVID-19. The measure is a replacement for more generous government-funded leave that was available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).