Hundreds of thousands of people have had to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires on the West coast, and dangerous ash and smoke have affected millions of others. In the Midwest and South, disaster relief efforts are underway after destructive storms. During these devastating times, organizations can be a big support to their employees. Here are some things you might consider doing:
You’ll also want to consider the tax consequences of any assistance you provide, whether in cash or as a benefit. Typically, any employer-paid item of value is taxable to the employee receiving it, but there are exceptions. Helping employees avoid unnecessary taxes certainly increases the value of the benefit or assistance. For instance, Internal Revenue Code § 139 permits tax-free employer payments for an employee’s disaster-related expenses, including housing and living expenses.
Originally posted on ThinkHR here.