Commentary and Analysis Regarding Colorado Law

Many small business clients find granting employees or key service providers a stake in the business an attractive concept as a tool for encouraging employee retention and quality work product. However, stock options and other grants of equity in small businesses often meet significant tax challenges that derail business owners’ good intentions.

One traditional type of equity grant, a grant of stock options, is used in many startup-friendly industries to help fledgling businesses compete with their more-established, full-pocketed competitors that offer higher salaries. But one hurdle is that stock options, when vested or when exercised, are often considered taxable income to the recipient.

Unfortunately, as we complete the first month of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic is still surging and many of the laws related to it changed on January 1, 2021. This article surveys a few of those laws, but is by far not an exhaustive list or a complete analysis of all of the new laws. Please give us a call if you have any specific questions related to the COVID-19 laws or otherwise.

Colorado Healthy Families and Workplace Act

On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued revised COVID-19 guidance effectively permitting employers to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees as long the employer: 1) follows accommodation requirements for disabilities and religious beliefs; and 2) allows employees to receive the vaccine from a third party that does not have a contract with the employer.

Mandating Vaccination is Generally Permitted under the ADA

April 24, 2020
COVID-19 and Potential Employment and Liability Issues
By Brian L. Allard, Associate

As businesses confront challenges not seen in generations, due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is extremely easy to become complacent with basic personnel and business liability matters. Yet now more than ever, businesses must stay vigilant. As revenues drop and payrolls become more difficult to maintain, wage and hour disputes will become more and more prevalent. Even in a crisis, businesses must pay their employees. Also, in financially difficult times more scrutiny will be placed on employees’ wages and hours. More information regarding wage and hour laws in the state of Colorado can be found here.

Lyons Gaddis Covid-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on the new PPP Loan Program and recommendations for managing your loan proceeds. 

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on the new PPP Loan Program and the timing of borrowing funds. 

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on the SBA Payckeck Protection Program recently announced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on small business owners who are dealing with closures and other challenges in response to recommended or mandated social distancing measures in the wake of the spreading coronavirus 

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert provides a sample form for use by companies designated as “Essential Businesses and Operations” under Governor Polis' Executive Order D2020-017 (as amended) exempting certain critical services from the stay-at-home Order.

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on specific issues for employers in response to the current crisis.

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses on Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ recent Executive Order regarding paid sick leave.

Lyons Gaddis COVID-19 Alert

This Alert is one in a collection of articles created by Lyons Gaddis in our effort to get important information to our clients regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States.  This Alert focuses the newly adopted Families First Coronavirus Response Act and its effect on student loans and a recently announced interest waivers.

Most, if not all, government employees are aware of the general proposition of “open records.”  The general premise is that information related to the functions of government should be open to public inspection.  In Colorado, this general premise is codified in the Colorado Open Records Act, § 24-72-200.1, et seq., C.R.S. (“CORA”).  CORA applies to all local governments within Colorado including, but not limited to school districts and special districts.  At the beginning of CORA, the state General Assembly provides the following declaration on the intent of the law:

“It is declared to be the public policy of this state that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, except as provided in [CORA] or as otherwise specifically provided by law.”[1]

As we move into the second quarter of 2018, a few workplace trends to watch for are below:

1) Sexual Harassment.  The #MeToo movement demonstrates that workplace harassment remains a persistent problem.  Thirty-six percent of all Colorado charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) last year related to sexual harassment. Workplace harassment affects all workers and causes a drag on performance.  It’s time to take a hard look at sexual harassment policies, complaint and investigation procedures, and training programs. Best practices to ensure a safe and productive workplace include:

TIME FOR EMPLOYER’S TO REVIEW “USE IT OR LOSE IT” VACATION POLICIES

Submitted by Catherine Tallerico.

On January 1, 2015, a new Colorado Wage Protection Act (“Act”) went into effect, expanding wage claims under the Colorado Wage Act.  The Act gives the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, Division of Labor (DOL) new enforcement authority to adjudicate complaints for unpaid wages, including earned vacation time.  The DOL’s authority to adjudicate vacation pay claims arises from the Wage Act’s definition of “wages” to include “vacation pay earned in accordance with the terms of an agreement.” Additionally, “if an employer provides paid vacation for an employee, the employer shall pay upon separation from employment all vacation pay earned and determinable in accordance with the terms of any agreement between the employer and the employee.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-101.

Last summer, the DOL made statements indicating an intent to find “use it or lose it” vacation policies in violation of the Act.  Such statement would have constituted a change in the DOL’s prior position in which it had permitted such policies so long as the risk of forfeiture was clearly set forth in an agreement.