News
Coalition Urges President Biden to Support Healthy Workplace Tax Credit
May 5, 2021
ISSA has joined more than 50 associations representing millions of employees and many millions more customers in asking U.S. President Joe Biden to include the bipartisan “Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act” (S. 537 and H.R. 1944.) in the next federal legislative package to protect the safety of workers, customers, and the public.
Sponsored by Senator’s Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) and Rob Portman (OH) in the Senate, and Representative’s Tom Rice (SC), Stephanie Murphy (FL), Darin LaHood (IL), and Jimmy Panetta (CA) in the House. This bipartisan legislation would create a targeted and temporary tax credit available to business entities and nonprofits for qualified expenses.
In the letter, the coalition writes, “A healthy workplaces tax credit is needed to help businesses uphold cleanliness levels, improve indoor air quality, protect employees, and give the public confidence when visiting facilities. According to the National Safety Council, employers have already spent an average of US$5,208 per employee on various workplace safety practices since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the Paycheck Protection Program and other relief programs, many businesses and nonprofits are still struggling financially and should not have to decide between safety and going out of business.”
“The pandemic has led to a new standard for workplace health and safety as well as financial hardships for many organizations. Businesses and nonprofits shouldn’t have to choose between protecting staff and customers and closing their doors,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “This tax credit will help of all sizes uphold cleanliness, improve indoor air quality, protect employees, and restore the confidence of consumers.”
According to the coalition, qualified expenses should include:
- Cleaning and workplace safety-related costs, including cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing-related products; equipment; delivery/dispensing devices and systems; signage; air filtration solutions; and technology platforms or services related to preventing the spread of COVID–19
- Training, consulting, standards, certifications, auditing/quality control, monitoring, and guidelines or other similar information related to COVID–19
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Technology used for limiting or tracing and tracking physical contact between customers and employees in the United States and improving workplace safety and hygiene
- Other expenditures associated with maintaining a healthy physical workplace such as design and operational reconfigurations, including those necessary to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines, as well as industry best practices.
To learn more about this critical piece of legislation including to view the coalition’s video ad, infographics, and supporting organizations, visit issa.com/TaxCredit. For questions regarding ISSA advocacy, including the healthy and safe workplace tax credit legislation, please contact John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs.
