Last week, as concerns about coronavirus continued to grow, U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, R-Fla., brought out a proposal to encourage companies to expand telework options.
Spano introduced the “Safeguarding Americans from Epidemics (SAFE) at Work Act” on Thursday. According to the congressman’s office, the bill “aims to incentivize employers to expand telework options so that more Americans are able to work from home, preventing further spread of COVID-19.”
“While the coronavirus situation unfolds, keeping Americans safe is my highest priority, and this includes safety in the workplace,” said Spano. “Encouraging employers to provide telework options to their employees is a simple step that can go a long way to prevent against unnecessary spread of the virus and keep American workers and their families safe.”
Spano’s proposal creates a temporary tax credit for 2020 and 2021 to encourage companies to use more telework options, providing credits for employees who work remotely for at least 12 days a month.
“The tax credit would be up to $1,200 per year for each qualifying employee, calculated as $100 per employee for each month they were a qualified teleworker, Additionally, the bill would temporarily restore the ability for employees to deduct home office expenses for tax years 2020 and 2021,” Spano’s office noted.
U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-NC, is cosponsoring the bill which was sent to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. So far, there is no counterpart over in the U.S. Senate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
