DOL Clarifies Cures Act’s Effect on HRA Guidance
The effect of the recent 21st Century Cures Act on health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) was clarified by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in a new round of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Archives
Exceptions Timekeeping Is Legal—But It’s a ‘Horrible’ Idea
Employers would be wise to ignore the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulations and guidance that permit exceptions timekeeping under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department says that the practice is fine, but experts warn that it sets employers up to violate another DOL mandate: “complete and accurate” time records.
Year-End Reporting: Clarifying Tax Forms and ACA Requirements
Navigating the latest tax reporting changes and avoiding filing errors is not always straightforward and can present unique challenges to small and midsized businesses.
Intermittent Leave: Pregnant Employees and Curbing Abuse
In the last installment, we covered the rules regarding Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) intermittent leave. This article will focus on intermittent leave regarding pregnant employees. Curbing abuse of intermittent leave for pregnant employees can be difficult due to the permissive approach taken by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to FMLA leave during […]
CMS Finalizes Health Insurance Marketplace Rules
On December 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters final rule and the final Annual Letter to Issuers for 2018. The primary focus of the notice—risk stabilization—complements recent announcements that are meant to improve the risk pool, including actions to address third-party payments of premiums and improve program integrity for […]
Letting an Employee Go … the Right Way
By Bridget Miller No matter how well-documented the problem is—and no matter how carefully considered the decision has been—firing an employee is almost always difficult. It’s a moment fraught with high emotions on all sides. Guest columnist Bridget Miller has some tips for doing it the right way.
HR has role to play in building better supervisors
When human resources professionals ponder what would make their jobs easier, having effective supervisors is likely high on the list. But what can HR do to help build better supervisors? Author and consultant Sandra Crowe has some ideas to pass along. Crowe, principal at Pivotal Point Training and Consulting, Inc., addressed the issue in a […]
Simplify Compliance Executives Share their Leadership Resolutions for 2017
Last month, BLR was involved in a merger that resulted in a new company with four business units being established. The combined company, Simplify Compliance, serves HR, safety, and environmental professionals as well as the healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services industries.
Don’t Get Left Behind by New California Employment Laws
By Joel Kane, Sedgwick, LLP The California Legislature is constantly enacting new laws, many of which address relatively narrow issues. In some instances, however, there’s still a significant impact on employers, especially in industries that are being targeted by the legislation.
New California Regs Address Violence in the Healthcare Industry
California healthcare employers will soon have a new regulation to comply with. On December 8, 2016, the state’s Office of Administrative Law approved new Section 3342 of the General Industry Safety Orders, Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care. The standard takes effect on April 1, 2017.