Worldwide ERC®’s Government Affairs sent letters to Congress advocating for additional workforce mobility relief in the next economic stimulus package.

On 10 July, Worldwide ERC®’s Government Affairs sent letters signed by President and CEO Lynn Shotwell to Congressional leaders advocating for additional workforce mobility relief in the next economic stimulus package. The relief was requested of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy who are all currently discussing the next package. As employers prioritize safe workforce mobility, the letters address needs critical to recovery, a strong economic infrastructure and the growth of U.S. and global economies.

Specifically, Worldwide ERC® asks that Congress:

• Clarify that small businesses which have loans forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) can still deduct covered expenses. This request refers to the Internal Revenue Service’s 30 April notice (Notice 2020-30), and highlights the small businesses who may be facing difficulty in paying additional taxes as companies and the federal government gradually increase the number of employees they relocate.
• Allocate additional funds and allow use of remaining funds in the PPP to small businesses that have experienced a sharp drop in revenue. While the PPP has been a tremendous benefit to many small businesses and their employees, many of them have started running out the initially allocated funds. Travel restrictions have made it more difficult for workforce mobility’s small business members to remain financially viable and maintain staff.
• Include a reinstatement of the moving expense deduction in the next economic stimulus package. The deduction and exclusion provide tax relief ensuring that relocation and moving are made more affordable. Such a retroactive reinstatement to the beginning of 2019 would provide approximately $1 billion in immediate relief to employees and the employers moving them.
• Provide a balanced approach to help provide employers with liability protections as they reopen workplace and relocate employees. Worldwide ERC®’s just released Workforce Mobility Safety Framework is a great example of what employers should consider in ensuring workforce mobility safety now.