COVID-19 has brought massive changes in the working system of the business. It`s due to COVID-19 that employees are working from home. This has also brought changes in the fringe benefits, health benefits, safety, and the mental wellbeing of the employees. FBT is taxes that are paid by the employer for the employee for the work done by them. Due to COVID, the fringe benefits are included in the overall salary or payments made to the employee. 

Earlier, other than the salary employees were given perks and economic security in the form of non-wage benefits for their loyal work done. This lessened employee retention and made the employee work harder for earning such rewards. 

According To ATO, There Are Certain Key Points That Affect The Fringe Benefits Due To COVID

• If employees are using a printer and laptop on a regular basis for work then it is included in the FBT. If not in use regularly then it is exempted.
• Other things such as using a monitor, mouse, or keyboard is allowed by the company due to COVID. These benefits are exempted from the perks.
• Stationary used by the employees who are working from home for them also the deductible rule applies.
• Now due to lockdown situations, there is no medical benefit given if an employee gets affected by this virus.
• Exemptions are given only for any kind of relocation for work, flight charges, and other work-related transport expenses.
• Medical assistance and the flu vaccination are exempted from the FBT. Moreover, any kind of voucher is exempted from FBT seeing the pandemic situation.
• Providing employees with COVID testing is exempted from the fringe benefits as this is an infectious virus.
• Benefit Extension During Corona Virus Situation

In case if an employee is affected due to Corona then the medical benefits are extended in three cases that are:

• Until the employee finds a new job for himself.
• Till the employee gets well and returns back to the job.
• According to the CARES Act, the burden of paying taxes reduces in the long run.

FFCRA`S PAID LEAVE

Families’ First Coronavirus response act expands the time period for paying leave and are non-punishable if they are loyal employees of the company. Moreover, the employees need to work cautiously with the company and cannot neglect the work and cannot take unnecessary leave. 

• If at all the employees try and take leave in this COVID Situation then the department of labor can take action against them. Section 16 and 17 can be put on the employees if they request for leave. 
• There are ways when the employees can enroll themselves in special health insurance seeing the COVID situations. 
• Companies encourage employees to use the grace period effectively. Healthcare payments need to be done in a proper way within the calendar year. Every employee gets a different graced period hence, the HRA expenses can be used wisely to meet any kind of medical expenses in this COVID 19 period.

Conclusion

The whole working system of the companies has changed due to the lockdown and COVID. As we know every employee gets different perks and rewards according to the work done by them. Therefore, the benefits will vary from employee to employee and it is difficult to say how much the FBT will affect the employees and to what extent!!