Employer

In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many employers have closed all or parts of their operations — and placed all or some employees on temporary unpaid leave in the form of mandatory furloughs. If yours has done so, or is considering it, you may wonder whether you have to offer continuing health care coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, [...]

The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued temporary regulations implementing the emergency paid sick and family leave provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Here are some highlights of the regs’ impact on group health plans. Maintenance of coverage Employers must maintain group health plan coverage on the same terms as if an [...]

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has changed the way most employers are interacting with their employees. Many organizations have sent employees home to work remotely, but this isn’t feasible in every industry. If you still need to run an office or operate a facility with employees on-site, you may wonder what you’re legally allowed to do in terms of screening workers for the illness. In March, [...]

By now, most employers have presumably read up on the basic tax relief and financial assistance aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. What you may not have heard much about is how the law affects employer-sponsored benefit plans. Here are some highlights of its impact: Coverage mandates. Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, an earlier law passed in response [...]

When the going gets tough, patience and good manners often go out the window. While employers deal with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), stress levels are rising. In turn, relationships — both internal and external — are at risk. From an HR perspective, one way to mitigate the potential damage is to gently remind employees of the importance of maintaining and even developing “soft [...]

The IRS recently updated its principal guidance on travel per diems. These are daily amounts that, subject to periodically adjusted limits, may be used in lieu of actual expense amounts to determine nontaxable travel allowances or reimbursements, or to substantiate travel expense deductions. The rules were previously set out in IRS guidance issued years ago, but the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) suspended miscellaneous [...]

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the 2020 annual adjustments to civil monetary penalties for a wide range of benefits-related violations. Legislation enacted in 2015 requires annual adjustments to certain penalty amounts by January 15 of each year. The 2020 adjustments are effective for penalties assessed after January 15, 2020, with respect to violations occurring after November 2, 2015. Here are some highlights: [...]

The shortage of skilled labor available for hire is bad — and it’s worldwide. New research conducted by the Manpower Group for the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos revealed that 54% of employers surveyed globally were struggling with skilled labor shortages. Organizations in 36 of 44 countries surveyed reported that it was harder to attract skilled talent in 2019 than in 2018. The United [...]

Late last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. Among its most notable rule changes are those pertaining to 401(k) plans. Here are some key highlights. New tax credit Starting in 2020, the new rules create a tax credit of up to $500 per year to employers to defray startup costs for new [...]

At the beginning of the year, many people make resolutions about improving their physical fitness and overall well-being. Employers may seek to give these goals a boost in the longevity department by offering an employee wellness program. If your organization is doing so, or considering such a program, it’s important to be aware of the many federal laws involved. Five of the most important are: [...]

Not every employer is ready or capable of launching and administrating a 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan. If your organization is in this camp, its employees might appreciate a payroll deduction IRA. How it works With a payroll deduction IRA, employees’ contributions are deducted directly from their paychecks. The automatic deduction can make it easier for employees (and self-employed persons) to save for retirement [...]

Is your organization looking to hire new employees? Join the club. The U.S. unemployment rate hit a historic low this past April, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey. It fell to 3.6%, the lowest rate since December 1969 — that’s almost 50 years! April also marked the 14th consecutive month of the unemployment rate being at or below 4%. With so many [...]

Payroll costs are a natural and unavoidable consequence of being an employer. But this doesn’t mean you can’t keep an eye out for ways to lower these costs or simply handle payroll more efficiently.One approach that many organizations use is issuing employees a payroll card (much like a credit or debit card) that they can use to access funds earned from working. Payroll cards are [...]

Trade secrets are among the most critical yet often overlooked assets of any organization. And they aren’t always as sophisticated as proprietary software or as famously secret as Coca-Cola’s formula. A trade secret can be as seemingly innocuous as a customer list, business strategy, policy manual or pricing sheet.When looking to protect yours, the first line of defense should be following the advice of your [...]