Tax Withholdings
As a fully remote employee, you are responsible for ensuring the correct amount of federal and state income tax is withheld from your paycheck.
- Federal Income Tax: Complete Form W-4 (IRS) Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate to figure the correct amount of federal income tax to have withheld from your paycheck.
- State Income Tax: As a fully remote employee working in Colorado, you are encouraged to complete State Form DR 0004, Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate. While this form is optional (the state will default to your federal W-4 if not provided), completing it allows for more accurate state-specific withholding.
Please submit both completed forms to the Payroll Office via the secure Payroll Office FileSender.
Leave Policies
Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA): Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year. This leave can be used for mental or physical illness, preventive care, or reasons related to domestic abuse or sexual assault.
Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI): This state-run program provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family or medical reasons (with an additional 4 weeks for pregnancy complications). Both employers and employees typically contribute to this fund via payroll premiums.
Workplace Rights & Posters
Important Note: This information is a summary and is subject to change. For complete details and the most current regulations, please refer to the official Colorado Department of Labor website and consult with Lehigh University's HR and Payroll departments for specific guidance.
- Colorado Labor Law Poster English
- Colorado Labor Law Poster Spanish
- COMPS Order (Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards)
- Colorado Workplace Public Health Rights Poster
- Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program Notice
- Colorado Anti-Discrimination Poster
Workers' Compensation
Worker's Compensation coverage extends to remote employees who suffer a work-related injury or illness while performing their job duties. For an injury to be covered, it must arise out of and in the course of employment. Workers' compensation claims must be reported to the Risk Management Office at 610-758-3899 within one business day of the accident.
How to Claim Unemployment Insurance Benefits
If you become unemployed through no fault of your own and meet eligibility requirements, you may be able to claim Unemployment Insurance Benefits through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment via the MyUI+ portal.