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Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Resources

Skip Navigation LinksIFEBP>News>Featured Topics>Coronavirus Resources

The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, impacting organizations across North America and the world. This page is your guide to the latest government and workplace resources so you can help navigate your organization through this time of uncertainty.

​International Foundation Resources

  • June 4, 2020 LIVE EVENT | COVID-19 Return to the Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference

    June 4, 2020 LIVE EVENT | COVID-19 Return to the Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference

    ​Join us virtually starting at 10:30 a.m. ET for guidance on developing a safe, legal and effective strategy for return to work.

    [More]
  • Virtual Testing is Here!

    Virtual Testing is Here!

    ​Take your CEBS exam virtually at home and keep moving forward in your goals.

    [More]
  • Transfer to Any 2020 or 2021 Program—Worry Free

    Transfer to Any 2020 or 2021 Program—Worry Free

    [More]
  • Education right now, right where you are. Check out online learning options.

    Education right now, right where you are. Check out online learning options.

    [More]
  • Interest in Telemedicine Has Exploded During COVID-19: Here's How It Works—Word on Benefits

    Interest in Telemedicine Has Exploded During COVID-19: Here's How It Works—Word on Benefits

    ​What is telemedicine? How does it work? What are the advantages? Disadvantages? How can you get participants involved? Get these questions and more answered here.

    [More]
  • The Questions Employees Are Asking During COVID-19

    The Questions Employees Are Asking During COVID-19

    ​The questions that came up most often in our latest survey—check out this blog to get the most asked questions.

    [More]
  • Retirement Plan Changes in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Retirement Plan Changes in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

    ​The pandemic has had some dramatic implications for workplace retirement programs. Find out the questions being asked here.

    [More]
  • Virtual Testing is Here!

    Virtual Testing is Here!

    ​Take your CEBS exam virtually and keep moving forward with your goals.

    [More]
  • Transfer to Any 2020 or 2021 Meeting—Worry Free

    Transfer to Any 2020 or 2021 Meeting—Worry Free

    [More]
  • Education right now, right where you are. Check out online learning options.

    Education right now, right where you are. Check out online learning options.

    [More]
  • Communicating in a Crisis: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know

    Communicating in a Crisis: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know

    Explore impactful ways to respond and communicate quickly in a crisis.

    [More]
  • Word on Benefits: 5 Ergonomic Tips for Your (New!) Home Office

    Word on Benefits: 5 Ergonomic Tips for Your (New!) Home Office

    ​Tips to stay productive, balancing work and home life.

    [More]
  • Vritual Internship—A Pandemic Opportunity | New Word on Benefits

    Vritual Internship—A Pandemic Opportunity | New Word on Benefits

    ​Seven ways to make it work for the employer and the intern.

    [More]

COVID-19 Survey Report

COVID-19 Blogs

Webcasts

Ask Your Peers

Ask a Benefits Expert

Coronavirus Stories

 

Additional Resources

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Temporary Rule [DOL]

FFCRA, CARES Act and COVID-19 Health Coverage Issues [DOL & HHS]

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Questions and Answers [DOL]

COVID-19 and the American Workplace [DOL]

FFCRA Presentation Slides and Webinar [DOL]

Employer Expanded Family and Medical Leave Requirements [DOL]

FFCRA Notice FAQs [DOL]

Poster on Employee Rights [DOL]

FFCRA Multiemployer Alert [Milliman]

DOL Issues Regulations Implementing Emergency Paid Sick and Paid FMLA Law [FMLA Insights]

FFCRA Documentation and Record Keeping [Ice Miller]

Health Plan Continuation for Those Taking EPSLA or EFMLEA Protected Leave [Graydon]

Government Resources

Administrative Relief: Deadlines Applicable to Employment Taxes, Employee Benefits, and Exempt Organizations Affected by Pandemic [IRS Notice 2020-35]

Coronavirus-Related Relief for Retirement Plans and IRAs [IRS]
COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings [CDC]

COVID-19 Guidance on Section 125 Plan Mid-Year Changes and High Deductible Health Plans [IRS Notice 2020-29]

Coronavirus Tax Relief [IRS]

Guidance and Relief for Employee Benefit Plans Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak [EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01]

Extension of Certain Time Frames for Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, andBeneficiaries Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak Final Rule [DOL & IRS]

COVID-19 FAQs for Participants andBeneficiaries: ERISA Rights & Responsibilities [DOL]

FAQs on Essential Health Benefit Coverage and the Coronavirus [CMS]

High Deductible Health Plans and Expenses Related to COVID-19 [IRS Notice 2020-15]

The ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the Coronavirus [EEOC]

Coronavirus and COVID-19 [EEOC]

Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus [OSHA]

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 [OSHA]

Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) [CDC]

Resources for Businesses and Employers includes a recorded call for employers with CDC Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases [CDC]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) [CDC]

HIPAA and COVID-19 [HHS Office for Civil Rights]

Federal Government Resources

Government announces coming into force of regulations providing relief to federally regulated pension plan sponsors [Government of Canada]

COVID-19 Measures – FAQs for Federally Regulated Private Pension Plans [OSFI]

Questions and Answers on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit [Government of Canada]

Backgrounder: Support to Canadians and businesses affected by COVID-19 [Government of Canada]

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) [Government of Canada]

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan [Government of Canada]

OSFI Actions to Address Issues Stemming from COVID-19 [OSFI]

Government announces relief for federally regulated pension plan sponsors [Department of Finance Canada]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Health Canada]

COVID-19 Spring 2020 Notices [Employment and Social Development Canada]

Provincial Government Resources 

Pension Sector Emergency Management Response [FSRA Ontario]

Support for Nova Scotians, businesses and health care [Government of Nova Scotia]

EPPA Update 20-01: COVID-19 Relief Measures [Alberta Superintendent of Pensions]

COVID-19: Relief Measures for Pension Plans in British Columbia [BC Financial Services Authority]

Provincial Health Websites

Workplace Resources

COVID-19 Return-to-Work Checklist from a Canadian Employment Law Perspective [Dickinson Wright]

40% of employers to recall staff to workplace when restrictions ease: survey [Benefits Canada]

Employers making plans for return-to-work processes: survey [Benefits Canada]

Calculating the CEWS: Meaning of “Leave With Pay” Leaves Questions Unanswered [McMillan]

Legal considerations for employers as pandemic drags on [Benefits Canada]

Federal Government Will Not Permit Employers to Top-Up the CERB Through a SUB Plan [Hicks Morley]

Key considerations when re-opening your business [Miller Thomson]

Best Practices for Returning to Work and Operating a Business During COVID-19: An Employer's Guide to Reopening Physical Workplaces [Bennett Jones]

The Employer’s COVID-19 Return to the Workplace Playbook [Osler]

Temperature Screening at Workplaces: A “HOT” Topic Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic [Gowling]

COVID-19 and the Workplace: Changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Summer Jobs Program [Aird Berlis]

Federal Wage Subsidy Legislation Passed [Hicks Morley]

FAQ’s: COVID-19 and the Workplace [Mathews Dinsdale]

COVID-19 Quick-Reference Considerations for Employers [Osler]

           

Health Plans

COBRA Coverage – FAQ for the COVID-19 Economy [Mintz]

COBRA in the Time of COVID-19 [Foley & Lardner]

Employee Benefit Changes Under the CARES Act [Thompson Coburn] 
Employer health plans have to meet new COVID-19 coverage mandate [Mercer]

New Coronavirus Legislation and Its Impact on Health Plans [Quarles & Brady]

COVID-19: Life and Disability Insurance Coverage [Barclay Damon]

Thinking Outside the Box to Help Employees During COVID: Section 139 Tax-Free Reimbursements [Groom]

CARES Act Brings Compensation, Benefits, and Payroll Tax Changes [Morgan Lewis]

Dependent Care Assistance Programs & COVID-19 [GCG Financial]

Global/Multinational

Director-General declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic [WHO]

Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19 [WHO]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic [WHO]

International Employment Challenges Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Epstein Becker Green]

COVID-19 Global Employer Guide [Baker McKenzie]

8 Questions Employers Should Ask About Coronavirus [Harvard Business Review]

Retirement Plans

Federal DB plans get break on solvency catch-up requirements [Investment Executive]

Pension plan regulatory relief and COVID-19 relief measures: A summary [Miller Thomson]

Updated: OSFI freezes pension transfers, but offers relief for older plan members [Investment Executive]

CRA waiving 1% minimum employer contributions in DC pensions for 2020 [Benefits Canada]

Pension Regulatory Guidance and Measures Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated) [Bennett Jones]

Employers can’t stop contributions to DC plans, Ontario regulator says [Investment Executive]

How to ease pension plan member anxiety when they can’t access funds [Benefits Canada]

Other Benefit Plans 

Cross-Country Review of New Leaves of Absence Created in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis [Littler]

Nova Scotia to cover extra dispensing fees for pharmacare clients during coronavirus pandemic [Global News]

Employers taking many approaches to leave, benefits during coronavirus pandemic [Benefits Canada]

Drug plan considerations during the coronavirus pandemic [Benefits Canada]

Should plan sponsors shift their benefits plan spend during coronavirus? [Benefits Canada]

Ontario Employer-Provided Benefits During a Layoff or Leave of Absence [MacDonald & Associates]

Employer responsibilities around benefits, pension provision during coronavirus [Benefits Canada]             

Global/Multinational Resources

International Employment Challenges Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Epstein Becker Green]

Covid-19 Watch: Reproduction Rates, Graphs and Face Masks [Alan Whiteside]

Director-General declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic [WHO]

Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19 [WHO]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [WHO]

8 Questions Employers Should Ask About Coronavirus [Harvard Business Review]

COVID-19 Global Employer Guide [Baker McKenzie]