U.S. Supreme Court Prohibits Enforcement of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court threw a monkey wrench in President Biden’s six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by ordering a stay of enforcement of the recently enacted COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate issued as an emergency temporary standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The mandate covered virtually all employers with […]

Vaccine May Be Required By Private Sector Employers with 100+ Employees

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 […]

“To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate”: Stephanie A. Kobal Discusses Issues Facing Employers in Lehigh Valley Business

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 […]

Stephanie Kobal Koenig To be Panelist in LVB Leadership Series Webinar

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 […]

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 Notes and Highlights

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 […]

Pennsylvania Lifts the Travel Quarantine Requirement

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf rescinded the state-wide order requiring anyone over the age of 11, who visits another state, to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Pennsylvania.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.

Tax Treatment of PPP Loans – Where Do We Stand?

When the CARES Act was passed in March 2020, one area that remained uncertain was the tax treatment of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness and whether it would be treated as taxable income to borrowers who had this debt discharged. The way this forgiveness would be handled potentially affected the millions of businesses […]

Paycheck Protection Program Round Two – Are You Eligible to Pursue a Second Loan?

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 […]

Northampton County Reopened Its COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

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 […]

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Beware of Email Scams

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a warning about email scams related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and its borrowers. Borrowers are reporting receiving emails from “sba-attorneys.com” that inform the recipient PPP funds were issued to them erroneously and action must be taken to avoid “potential criminal liability.” This email is […]