Cast your vote for compliance
Employers should be careful regarding voting leave requirements on Nov. 6, as laws vary from state to state regarding notice, time off and accommodation of election workers.
Compliance
Insurers, docs face-off over Georgias Enhanced Prompt Pay Law
The American Medical Association and Medical Association of Georgia are fighting efforts in Georgia to undo the states law requiring insurers that provide third-party administrative services to pay claims in a timely manner.
California joins Maryland, Illinois in protecting social media
Employers in the nations most populous state dont have the right to request social media usernames and passwords, with exceptions made for investigations of misconduct and employer-issued devices.
By
Seth E. Ort
ADA requires employers to fill vacant positions with qualified employees with disabilities
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently overruled prior precedent on transferring disabled employees to vacant positions.
Early impact of 401(k) fee disclosure rules appears minimal
The Labor Departments efforts to bring transparency to the nations 50 million 401(k) accounts have been largely met with shrugs and snores from plan providers and participants.
By
Gregg Wirth
Webinar to address workplace safety tactics
Experts in HR, psychology and security will hold a free online panel this week to address workplace security and violence prevention.
Focused fiduciary
Retirement readiness is just not a buzz word for EBAs Retirement Adviser of the Year.
IRS further delays interest rules on cash balance accounts
Plan administrators have a little wiggle room, for now, but the Moving Ahead for Progress act may not have fully revealed itself.
Bill freeing advisers from MLR passes House panel
Passage of bill excluding broker commissions from the PPACAs medical loss ratio calculation is seen as breakthrough for broker profession.
MLR bill clears House panel in major acknowledgement for brokers
Adviser representatives were encouraged by recognition of their role in employee benefits delivery as exclusion of commissions from medical loss ratio calculations moved forward last week. The Bills passage further shows that Congress what brokers do for a living, says the CEO of NAHU.
Benefits Think When babies cross a business line
An anthropology professor breastfed her sick baby in front of her undergraduate class recently, causing a minor stir on campus. The assistant professor at American University, Adrienne Pine, made the difficult decision during the first week of classes to bring her infant daughter to work after child care plans fell through. As an HR manager and peer, how would you respond if a similar situation occurred in your workplace?
Wellness program falls within ADA safe harbor
In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit's decision in Seff v. Broward County offers an alternate path for analyzing whether wellness programs comply with the ADA.
Protecting participants from themselves
I recently spoke at a seminar where the question was raised about a plan sponsor's obligations to act when they see participants have made foolish investment choices in their self-directed accounts. Is there a fiduciary obligation to tell participants that they have made an unwise investment choice?
AICPA tries to narrow definition of municipal advisor
The American Institute of CPAs has sent a letter to members of the House Financial Services Committee supporting a bill aimed at narrowing the definition of municipal advisor, without weakening investor protections.
Unilateral benefits modification allowed when vesting not apparent
A court recently upheld Whirlpools right to change retiree medical benefits for former Maytag employees whose collective bargaining agreement had expired.
Guidance clarifies FSA changes
IRS guidance clarifies changes to flexible spending account rules.
Seattle paid leave rule could have nationwide implications
Businesses whose employees work in Seattle have only days remaining before new paid sick and safe time rules kick in.
The value of oral and written disclaimers
An Ohio manufacturer recently learned the value of having oral and written disclaimers in place after a cash-balance plan participants monthly retirement benefit turned out to be less than half of what she was told it would be.
DOL lawsuit alleges misuse of two retirement funds
The Labor Department has sued to restore more than $34 million in assets to two retirement funds of Michigan-based vehicle parts manufacturer Metavation LLC that allegedly were used in violation of ERISA.
By
News Reports
IRS proposal would nix signature requirement on form extension requests
The IRS has proposed eliminating a signature requirement on an automatic extension for filing deferred vested benefit information, which a recent Segal Compliance Alert characterized as a small but irritating nuisance for many plan sponsors.
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News Reports