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IRS Rules Further Define Payment of ACA Insurer Fees

New IRS regulations define the way health insurers will pay fees under Section 9010 of the Affordable Care Act. In the rules, the IRS applies Notice 2014-47 and provides further guidance on how covered entities will pay the fees for 2015 and subsequent fee years. It also tells how covered entities will report and pay on behalf of […]

HR and Employment Trends for 2015

Sometimes trends catch us by surprise, especially if they’re brought on by market forces outside of our control. However, some trends we can see coming, and we can choose whether to embrace them, react to them, or ignore them. Let’s take a look at some of the HR and employment trends for 2015.

Unemployment Is Down. Will Your Employees Jump Ship?

It’s well-known that high unemployment rates discourage employees from voluntarily leaving their jobs—even if they’re unhappy—because of the uncertainty in how long it will take to secure a new position. However, the unemployment rate has been steadily dropping for several years, now (in early 2015) reaching lows last seen before the recession. The number of […]

Voluntary Benefits: Low Cost, High Reward!

Voluntary benefits can have a very positive effect on recruiting and retention, and with little cost being shouldered by the employer. Steve L. Adams, an expert in the field of benefits and insurance, emphasizes that in order to reap the rewards of these offerings, you must be sure to implement them in a way that […]

Spouses of certain H-1B visa workers now eligible for employment authorization

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published final regulations that will extend employment authorization eligibility to spouses of certain nonimmigrant workers who are in the United States on H-1B visas. The H-1B, or highly-skilled worker, visa is the most commonly discussed and highly sought employment-based nonimmigrant visa. The number of visas available each year […]

To dock or not to dock? That is the question

by Kara E. Shea One of the most common questions I hear from employers involves when they can or can’t dock employees’ paychecks. It’s very tempting to use an employee’s paycheck as a way to recoup losses you’ve incurred because of her actions, especially when, as a practical matter, there will never be any other […]