Paid Time Off to Vote

While no federal law provides employees leave to vote, many states have enacted voter-leave laws. Some states guarantee paid time off, others do not. The time guaranteed for employees to vote varies state-by-state as well. Some employers, depending on the state, may...

Department of Labor Releases Opinion Letters

Opinion letters serve as a means by which the public can develop a clearer understanding of what FLSA and FMLA compliance entails. Opinion letters may be signed by the Wage and Hour Division Administrator or a lower level official. On August 28, 2018 The Department of...

IRS releases Guidance on Paid Family Leave Tax Credit

The IRS announced that eligible employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees may qualify for a new business credit for tax years 2018 and 2019. In addition, eligible employers who set up qualifying paid family leave programs or amend existing...

Medicare Part D Participant Notice must be sent before Oct 15

Plan sponsors that offer prescription drug coverage must provide notices of creditable or non-creditable coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals, prior to each year’s Medicare Part D annual enrollment period. The required notices may be provided in annual enrollment...

Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Coming Soon

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to report information about their medical loss ratio to the Department of Health and Human Services each year. The medical loss ratio (MLR) is the cost of claims plus the amount expended on health care quality...

Employers May Have More Latitude with Employee Handbooks

Following the issuance of a general counsel memo approving common handbook provisions, employers may expect the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to subject their employee handbooks to less scrutiny than in recent years. The memo outlined three categories of...

Employers are Increasingly Dropping Marijuana Testing

Employers are increasingly dropping pre-employment drug screening for marijuana.  While still in its early stages, the shift away from marijuana testing appears likely to accelerate as more states legalize cannabis use.  Recreational marijuana use is legal in nine...

Reminder: PCORI Fees Due by July 31, 2018

The Affordable Care Act imposes a fee on issuers of specified health insurance policies and plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The fee, required to be reported once a year on the second...