SHRM defends professional certification effort
The Society for Human Resource Managements new HR certification program is the best way to advance the profession, the organization says, despite concerns from the HR Certification Institute.
Compliance
NAHU advocates for more special enrollment opportunities on exchanges
As the HHS adds more opportunities for consumers to obtain health coverage outside of open enrollment, the broker and agent association says its not enough.
Disclaimers can be a good thing, particularly in benefit notices
One recent court case suggests your employer clients should consider including disclaimers in benefit notices to protect against changes in retirement plan payouts.
Rollover contributions: What plan administrators need to know
Retirement plan administrators routinely receive requests from employees to accept rollover contributions. When processing these requests, plan administrators must be mindful of IRS guidelines.
By
Ann Fievet
Adviser groups, Chamber of Commerce object to DOL fee guide rule
A handful of letters from trade groups and the Chamber of Commerce reject as premature and imprudent the DOLs proposal to require retirement plan service providers supply guides to fee disclosures.
Feds issue rules for paying insurers from retirement plans
Theres an end to ambiguity on whether direct payments for certain kinds of coverage are taxable or not.
Employer mandate repeal wont relinquish employers from ACA compliance
An increasingly discussed abandonment of the ever-delayed portion of the ACA would not eliminate your employer clients need to comply with the health law.
Employers need to understand DOMA benefits implications
The Supreme Courts 2013 ruling striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act has lasting implications on employee benefits that employers may be asking advisers about soon if they havent already.
Benefits Think Make sure youre ready for an I-9 audit
Commentary: Columnist Craig Davidson walks through the importance of ensuring solid immigration forms are in place for all employees.
Scenario-planning: What may happen to the ACA after 2016
As insurance industry professionals, brokers are living with the ACA and tackling its compliance mandates and issues every day for clients. But whats to come for the law after the next presidential election?
Dont get cute when ERISA documents are requested
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act generally requires that plan participants get copies of plan documents when requested. However, there is even an enforcement provision of ERISA that subjects the administrator to penalties if they fail to provide requested documentation.
Benefits Think Measuring leaves of absence in concert with the ACA
For every employee leave you must ensure that an orchestra of different people, laws, and systems play in perfect concert with each other. Not an easy task when you consider the following: trying to determine who and when employees are on leave, abiding by multiple, complex leave laws, and dealing with HRIS tracking shortcomings.
ACA effects on employers still to come
All of the delays related to the Affordable Care may be seen a sign of the law's failure, but one employment law expert said Monday employers can view the delays as a good thing an extra year or more to figure out what to do.
Consider the plan document king
Two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions signal a need for benefit advisers to review clients plan documents and ensure they include thorough enforceable terms.
Control groups and the ACA you need to be cautious
This insurance rule, referring to the grouping of companies owned by the same person, hasnt applied to medical coverage until now. One broker is concerned that benefit advisers and small business owners alike arent up to speed on this requirement and could be vulnerable to liabilities via penalties and lawsuits.
ACA compliance: Advise employers to revise employee handbooks
Many employers have yet to update their work policies to reflect the 90-day waiting period rule, a possible landmine for employee confusion and lawsuits.
ACA regulations extend to a global workplace
Todays employers increasingly rely on a global workforce, and some ACA rules apply to employees working abroad. Similarly, ACA rules also apply to many foreign nationals working in the U.S.
Advisers poised to help employers navigate benefit conundrum
New research provides a glimpse into just how dire of a situation employers are in as they face rising health care costs and the desire to continue offering a competitive benefits package.
Revenue ruling eases administrative rollover burden
In an effort to make workplace retirement savings more portable and to help build assets in tax-qualified retirement plans, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have removed a cumbersome step plan sponsors must take when accepting rollovers from other employers plans.
Sixth Circuit rules that telecommuting may be a reasonable accommodation
Courts in the past have held that telecommuting is not required as a reasonable accommodation by employers. All that could change thanks to a recent ruling in the Sixth Circuit, which may offer new precedent for the employee benefit.