Coalition Pressures Congress to Create Healthy Workplace Tax Credit

ANCOR is sharing this article by ASAE, the association for association professionals, so that our members can stay informed about joint efforts by the broader nonprofit and business sectors to obtain funding for the pandemic beyond the relief package currently stalled in Congress. ANCOR is a member of ASAE.

“Earlier this month, ASAE joined ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association and almost 40 organizations on a letter that urges Congress to establish a ‘healthy workplace tax credit in the next federal stimulus package to protect the safety of workers, customers, and the public.’ ASAE called for this and similar initiatives in its July 21 letter to Congress.

As proposed, the tax credit would be available to both businesses and nonprofits.

According to the letter, qualified expenses should include:

• Cleaning and workplace safety-related costs, including cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing-related products; equipment; delivery/dispensing devices and systems; signage; 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;
• Technology used for limiting or tracing and tracking physical contact between customers and employees in the United States and improving workplace safety and hygiene; and
• 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.

In a press release from ISSA, Executive Director John Barrett stated that ‘while many small businesses are already struggling to stay afloat amid the pandemic, they’re also facing significant financial stress due to the costs necessary to combat COVID-19. A cleaning and sanitation tax credit will be crucial to help companies overcome the unexpected costs needed to appropriately clean and disinfect their spaces, remain open for business, and restore consumer confidence.’”