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Health reform here to stay: What now?
The reelection of President Obama effectively quashed any chance of a repeal or even a delay of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Now that the change is imminent, it’s time for you and your HR...
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More healthcare confusion: Who’s an ‘employee’?
With the the Affordable Care Act no longer in doubt, many employers are scrambling to determine just who on their payroll counts as a full-time employee (FTE). Here’s help. That’s complicated by...
View ArticleCourt case sends warning on COBRA records
Alert your Benefits department to a recent ruling that shows how hard courts can come down on employers with shoddy COBRA processes. According to court documents, Tondalaya Evans was enrolled in her...
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2 types of tax audits looming: Are you ready?
There’s a double-barreled audit risk for businesses these days — one from the states and the other from the feds. State To start with, state governments are hurting for cash right now. And sometimes...
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Making sure you don’t get tripped up in ‘at-will’ agreements
Two legal cases in 2012 show how a tiny mistake in an at-will employment policy could end up in a violation of federal labor law. Recent guidance from National Labor Relations Board Associate General...
View ArticleFollowing federal law on rest breaks
Several court cases and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act have dictated the rules on rest breaks for employees. (Some states have separate rules.) To test your knowledge of the federal rules,...
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Obamacare: HHS proposes 10 health-plan ‘musts’
For companies debating their next move as Obamacare kicks into full gear, key info has just been released. The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a rule listing “essential health...
View ArticleIncreased FUTA tax deposits for employers in 18 states
Employers who do business in 18 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands, will be making larger-than- usual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax deposits. That’s because the U.S. Dept. of Labor just...
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IRS’s latest audit target — and how to avoid the problem
Performing a simple cross-check between your A/P and Payroll departments could save your company from a dreaded IRS or state audit. What they should be looking for: whether some of your 1099s and...
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Feds release employment-law enforcement plan
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has just released its final Strategic Enforcement Plan, laying out what’s on tap for employers for the next couple of years. Here’s a look at the...
View ArticleSettling customer disputes through arbitration: Maybe not such a good deal
Nobody ever wants a customer dispute to land in a courtroom. But is arbitration really a better alternative? Arbitration is often a popular option when companies can’t collect or solve other...
View ArticleEmployers get reprieve on insurance-exchange notices
Good news: At least for now, you won’t have to worry about distributing notices on the availability of insurance coverage through state exchanges. Under the healthcare reform law, all employers (even...
View ArticleIRS clarifies rule on health coverage
There are a few big surprises tucked away in the IRS’s recently proposed “Employer Shared Responsibility” regs under health reform. One key example: The penalty for not providing health coverage to...
View ArticleFeds propose 9 new safety standards for business
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Department of Labor have big plans for 2013, according to the just-released regulatory agenda. A whopping nine new OSHA standards could see the...
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Alert HR: 3 changes to medical-leave act
The US Labor Department just issued clarification on three key issues involving the Family and Medical Leave Act. The guidance from DOL comes in the form of an Administrator Interpretation Letter,...
View ArticleNot sure if worker meets IC status? Now’s the time to check
If you have independent contractors working for your organization, it’s a good time — for at least two reasons — to double-check whether they meet the IRS standards for IC status. Reason #1: The IRS...
View ArticleObamacare: IRS issues new rules on ‘affordability test’
Another day, another part of Obamacare your company must prepare to comply with. The latest: the affordability test. You know starting in 2014 firms with 50+ employees must offer health coverage. But...
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How boss’s small slip-up cost employer $1.26M
Every so often, employers need a good reminder on how important it is to make sure all frontline managers are properly trained in handling employees’ FMLA requests. And a recent court ruling shows...
View ArticleHHS issues final rule on health-benefits requirement
After releasing a number of bulletins and a proposed regulation, the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued its final rule on what constitutes “essential health benefits” under the...
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HR alert: May deadline for complying with new federal form
After May 7, failure to use the revised federal Form I-9 could result in penalties, says the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Your HR or Payroll people need to use the new form for...
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