May is National Bike Month so let's celebrate the many benefits of bicycling! Even though we're staying home, it's essential that we still engage in physical activity and biking is a great way to exercise and get some fresh air while practicing safe social distancing.* Physical benefits of cycling include weight loss, better lung health, improved balance, posture, and coordination, among many other pluses. Cycling can also improve your mental wellness. Being that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, you should know that biking can boost your brain power, your self-esteem, and your mood, among much more....

In response to the public health crisis, many organizations are questioning if they are still required to comply with the DC Commuter Benefits Law during the health crisis. The answer is YES, compliance is still required despite the circumstances. The DC Commuter Benefits Law requires businesses (including non-profits) with 20 or more employees (full-time or part-time) in the District to offer commuter benefits....

Prepare yourselves! This summer, WMATA will initiate phase two of its Platform Improvement Project by reconstructing platforms at four Orange Line stations and connecting the Silver Line to new stations in Metro's network. To finish the project on time, all stations west of Ballston will be closed starting Saturday, May 23, 2020: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church, Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Greensboro, Tysons Corner, and McLean. Ballston-MU station will remain open and serve as the western destination on the Orange Line. Silver Line service will be temporarily suspended. You should allow extra travel time and start planning alternatives if your commute will be affected.* *Please be sure to check the transit providers' websites for any updates or changes to schedules given the public health crisis....

In the best interest of public safety during the health crisis, transportation providers nationwide have taken effective, protective measures to support the "stay home" advisory and to encourage safe social distancing. This includes aggressive cleaning and disinfecting protocols, temporarily pausing or reducing services, closing stations, and more. Please be advised that you should be traveling for ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY in Washington, DC which includes obtaining medical care that cannot be provided virtually; purchasing food and/or household goods; performing or accessing essential government functions; working at essential businesses; engaging in essential travel; or engaging in recreational activities, as defined by Mayor Muriel Bowser's Stay-At-Home Order. Below is a breakdown of limited transportation services in the District of Columbia:...

Though we're still a couple months away, pre-construction activity has already started for Metro's Platform Improvement Project this summer. This project will close three Orange Line stations in Virginia from Saturday, May 23 through Monday, September 7, 2020: Vienna, Dunn Loring, and East Falls Church. The West Falls Church Station will also undergo construction but will remain open to customers throughout the summer....

Initially, women were only celebrated on International Women's Day on March 8. In 1978, this day extended to become Women's History Week and the movement expanded nationwide as other communities initiated their own celebratory observations. Two years later, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Subsequent presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed a law designating March as Women’s History Month....

Telework Week is coming up on March 2-6, 2020. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the benefits of teleworking, promote your organization's telework policy, or explore implementing a formal telework agreement. Providing the option for employees to telework is becoming the new norm at many organizations in the District and across the nation. Get on board with this workplace standard that is retaining and attracting top talent....

Non-profits and other tax-exempt organizations that provide transit or parking benefits can breathe a sigh of relief this new year. The provision that required tax-exempt employers (universities, hospitals, religious institutions, etc.) to declare expenses tied to providing transportation fringe benefits as unrelated business income was repealed as a part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. Since this repeal is retroactive, tax-exempt employers can file an amended return seeking a refund on the taxes paid since enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 31, 2017....

Effective January 1st, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will increase the monthly pre-tax deduction limit for transportation fringe benefits from $265 to $270. This $5 increase applies to commutes by vanpool and transit, and for qualified parking. Be sure to let your employees know in case they’d like to increase their commuter benefit contribution in the coming year....

Are you a DC organization with 20 or more employees? The DC Commuter Benefits Law requires businesses (including non-profits) with 20 or more employees (full-time or part-time) in DC to offer commuter benefits. Starting on November 14, 2019, businesses operating in Washington, DC that are not in compliance with the DC Commuter Benefits Law, will be subject to fines. What are the fines for non-compliance? For the first offense, each month that a business is not in compliance could result in a fine of $100 per covered employee. Repeat offenders would see fines of $200 per employee for the second offense, $400 per employee for the third offense, and $800 per employee for subsequent offenses. To review the regulation in the Notice of Final Rulemaking, click here....