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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 […]

News Notes: Ergonomics Developments

In a victory for ergonomics advocates, Digital Equipment Corporation was recently ordered to pay almost $6 million to three computer users who claimed that Digital’s keyboards caused arm, wrist and hand injuries. Other keyboard makers, including IBM and Compaq, have successfully defended themselves against similar claims-though they now issue warnings to their employees and users. […]

California Supreme Court to Look at Same-Sex Marriage

Despite the passage of Proposition 8 earlier this month, the issue of same-sex marriage is still very much alive in California. The California Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will address the issues raised by the initiative at the request of advocates on both sides: (1) Was Proposition 8 legally valid, or must it be […]

Online—Can’t Prohibit the Bad, Can’t Allow the Good?

Is that right? You can’t prohibit employees from saying bad things online, yet you also can’t allow them to say good things? To some extent, that’s true, says attorney Peter Lowe. Lowe, who is a partner at Brann & Isaacson in Lewiston, Maine, offered his tips at the BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently […]

Supreme Court Will Rule on Preemption of Vermont Health Reporting Law

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether ERISA preemption shields a self-funded health plan from state requirements to report health claims data. The court agreed June 29 to hear Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. (2015 WL 2473478). The state of Vermont is appealing the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Liberty Mutual v. […]

When Disaster Impacts Work Plans

Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other disasters have the potential to significantly impact business operations.

Ergonomic Update—Enforcement, but No New Legislation

Guest Post by: Elaine Quayle Editor Business & Legal Resources, Inc. Ergonomics issues may have been on back burner, but there is new interest in reducing injuries caused by inferior ergonomic practices. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health finds that health problems associated with poor ergonomics compose the most prevalent lost-time injuries and […]

FMLA : What Makes Great Leave Administration?

Many employers forget that FMLA administration starts with the development and implementation of a written policy. If your FMLA policy isn’t clear and comprehensive, you’re creating potential problems for yourself from the get-go.  Read more.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

Employment law editor Michael Maslanka reviews the book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. Review highlights tactics in book for effective communication between supervisors and employees. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High‘s big idea: There are tactics you can […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Paperback Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling paperback business books as ranked by the New York Times on June 20. 1. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink. A look at what truly motivates us, and how we can use that knowledge to work smarter and live better. 2. […]