The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 Recorded Webinar | Margie Faulk | From: Apr 26, 2021 - To: Dec 31, 2021 |
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021! New Guidelines by OSHA to Ensure Employers Have a Safety Process for COVID-19!
On March 12, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) that signaled a new enforcement agenda, targeting establishments in industries that have an increased potential for employee exposure to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease, including healthcare institutions. NEPs are temporary programs that focus OSHA’s resources on particular hazards.
Employers should particularly take heed of the increased funding to OSHA for enforcement actions, which could indicate a potential increase in the number of audits and inspections, as well as additional scrutiny of whistleblower claims. The ARP also extends voluntary COVID-related paid leave benefits, so eligible employers need to consider whether they will continue to offer these benefits on a voluntary basis.
Finally, employers should note that the ARP extends unemployment benefits, provides for COBRA subsidies, and delivers a new round of direct payments to Americans. Absent from the final law is a hike in the minimum wage, a paid leave mandate, and the elimination of the tip credit, which was part of the original bill.
Areas Covered in the Session:-
Why Should You Attend?
The National Emphasis Program (NEP) provides a formalized structure for OSHA to implement inspections, including unprogrammed, programmed, and follow-up inspections, in workplaces where employees have a high frequency of potential COVID-19 exposures. Since the start of the pandemic, OSHA has handled most enforcement work remotely, without in-person inspections. Under the NEP, more inspections will involve on-site visits.
All employers, particularly those in what OSHA considers to be high-risk industries, should be prepared for the heightened OSHA enforcement activity related to COVID-19 exposures to avoid fines, penalties, and criminal sanctions.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted an Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease (ERP). Now, as states begin reopening their economies, the revised ERP will “ensure employers are taking action to protect their employees.”
Who Should Attend?
Margie Faulk, PHR, SHRM-CP is a senior level human resources professional with over 14 years of HR management and compliance experience. A former Compliance Officer for Federal Defense Contracting Industry, Margie has worked as an HR and Compliance advisor for major corporations and small businesses in the small, large, private, public and Non-profit sectors. Margie is bilingual (Spanish) fluent and Bi-cultural.
Margie’s focus is on multi-state, national, state and local workplace compliance. Additionally, Margie is working on International compliance initiatives globally which includes workplace compliance in other countries like the UK, Canada, France, Brazil, China, Africa, Mexico and India, just to name a few.
Margie has created and presented seminars/webinars for many compliance institutes. These national training providers, offer compliance training to professionals, business owners and companies interested in having their company compliant with workplace and industry regulations.
Margie holds professional human resources certification (PHR) from the HR Certification Institution (HRCI) and SHRM-CP certification from Society for Human Resources Management. Margie has completed the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional training and is a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE).
