Coalition Seeks Healthy Workplace Tax Credit in Stimulus Package

An ISSA-led coalition of nearly 40 groups representing millions of employees and many millions more customers urged U.S. Congress and the Trump Administration to include a “healthy workplace” tax credit in the next federal stimulus package to protect the safety of workers, customers, and the public. Such a tax credit should be targeted, temporary, and available to business entities and nonprofits, according to the coalition.

In a letter to congressional leaders, as well as a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, the groups stated that there is “already bipartisan and bicameral support to create such a tax credit. A ‘safe and healthy workplace tax credit’ is part of Senate Republicans’ Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools Act (HEALS Act) and similar bills have been introduced by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate. These proposals recognize the enormous unexpected costs of creating and maintaining healthy spaces for workers and customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The signatories requested that members of Congress and the administration consider the following updated recommendations as they “evaluate and hopefully include a reopening tax credit in the next stimulus bill.”

According to the coalition, qualified expenses should include:

1. Cleaning and workplace safety-related costs, including cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing-related products; equipment; delivery/dispensing devices and systems; and technology platforms or services related to preventing the spread of COVID–19
2. Training, consulting, standards, certifications, auditing/quality control, monitoring, and guidelines or other similar information related to COVID–19
3. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
4. Technology used for limiting or tracing and tracking physical contact between customers and employees nationwide and improving workplace safety and hygiene
5. Other expenditures associated with maintaining a healthy physical workplace such as reconfigurations, including those necessary to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines, as well as industry best practices.

Please take a moment to email or call your elected officials using ISSA’s Action Center and request their support for this tax credit as part of the next federal stimulus package.