The Stimulus Bill’s Impact on Employment Law, Part 2 of 2
And now for the eagerly-awaited second part to the posting about how the stimulus bill impacts employment law:
Changes to Unemployment Benefits
New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits and 20 weeks of extended benefits. The stimulus bill provides for an additional 13 weeks of extended benefits, bringing the total to 33 weeks of extended benefits, or 59 weeks of combined regular and extended benefits. The stimulus bill also extends the period of time to qualify for extended benefits. Previously, the deadline for applying for extended benefits was to be March 31, 2009, with no extended benefit payments made beyond August 2009. The stimulus bill now allows new claims for extended benefits to be made through December 31, 2009, with benefits payable through May 31, 2010.
Everyone receiving unemployment benefits on or before Dec. 31, 2009 will get an extra $25 per week, through June 30, 2010.
Income tax break
Normally, a recipient must pay federal income tax on all unemployment compensation. The stimulus bill suspends federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits per recipient in 2009. Any unemployment benefits over $2,400 will still be subject to federal income tax.
Changes to Whistelblower Protections
The stimulus bill contains a whistleblower protection provision for employees of private contractors and state and local (but not federal) governments who report gross mismanagement, gross waste, public safety issues, abuse of authority, or violation of law in the implementation or use of the stimulus funds. Protected disclosures include those “made in the ordinary course of an employee’s duties” to any of a long list of officials, including to Members of Congress.
For a detailed discussion of the stimulus bill’s changes to whistleblower protections, I choose not to recreate the wheel but instead refer you to the Whistleblower Law Bolg, which provides excellent coverage of the topic.
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