The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced enhancements to its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which is intended to provide critical access to capital for the industries hardest hit by COVID-19. The enhancements of the COVID-19 EIDL available to small businesses became immediately effective on September 8, 2021, and will run through […]

As part of President Biden’s six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, he has announced the first ever federal vaccine mandate to apply to private employers. In the coming weeks, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is likely to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that would require all private […]

Stephanie A. Kobal, shareholder in FLB’s Employment Law & Labor Relations Practice recently contributed to Lehigh Valley Business’ special COVID Recovery issue. The article, titled “To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate: Pressing Issues Facing Employers Related to the COVID-19 Vaccine,” provides guidance to employers on whether they can require employees to become vaccinated. Ms. Kobal […]

On Wednesday, April 28 at noon, FLB Real Estate & Employment Law attorney Stephanie Kobal Koenig will be a panelist in the Lehigh Valley Business Leadership Series webinar, “Positioning Your Business in a Post COVID Economy.” This free webinar will feature Ms. Koenig and other local leaders as they discuss what companies should be doing […]

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “ARP”) is the latest in Coronavirus relief legislation. On March 10, 2021, the House of Representatives passed the bill as amended by the Senate. President Biden signed the ARP into legislation on March 11. Below is a summary of the provisions that will have a direct impact […]

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf rescinded the state-wide order requiring anyone over the age of 11, who visits another state, to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Pennsylvania.  The so-called “quarantine” order had been in effect since November 2020. While the order was in effect, employers were challenged to address a myriad of difficult […]

On Monday, January 11, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration (the SBA) along with the Treasury Department re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for both new and existing borrowers. This article focuses on existing PPP borrowers and outlines the steps to take to apply for a second draw PPP loan. Business principals considering a PPP […]

On December 27, 2020, the Economic Aid Act was signed into law, which is intended to, among other things, continue providing assistance to companies and entrepreneurs whose businesses were adversely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. A key provision of the Economic Aid Act is an expansion of the already existing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). […]

With the initial distribution of the first vaccines approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration currently underway, employers are increasingly concerned about the extent to which they may or must mandate employee vaccination. In tacit recognition of those concerns and the complexities associated with vaccinating the American workforce, the Equal Employment Opportunity […]

Good news for small businesses. On November 20, 2020, the Northampton County COVID-19 Relief Small Business Grant Program re-opened and is currently accepting applications. Northampton County Council has approved this Grant Program, in partnership with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, that will distribute $1.3 million dollars of CARES Act Funds to Northampton County […]