There is no doubt that the ongoing pandemic has significantly changed the workplace. An increasing number of employees are working remotely, and there has been a high level of turnover in connection with the “Great Resignation”. We also have seen the federal government, many states—including Connecticut—and cities pass employment laws that provide
Romania Morley
Romania Jawahir is a non-lawyer member of the firm’s Labor and Employment group. She is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management at the University of Connecticut and preparing for the SHRM-CP exam. Romania is also a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team.
The Great Resignation: Ideas for Improving Retention
The “Great Resignation” reached a peak in November 2021 as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that a record-breaking 4.5 million workers voluntarily resigned from their employment. This represented an increase of almost 9% from October 2021 and was the largest number of resignations in more than 20 years.
In what Industries…
OSHA’s “vaccine or test” mandate stayed (again)
Earlier this afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay blocking the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) from enforcing its “vaccine or test” mandate previously imposed on businesses with 100 or more employees. This case will return to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals for the underlying merits to be litigated.
The stay means…
Form I-9 Remote Review Extended to April 30, 2022
On December 15, 2021, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a 120-day extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted on March 20, 2020. The temporary policy allowing employers to inspect Form I-9 documents remotely is extended until April 30, 2022.
The extension continues to apply the guidance…
Stay lifted on OSHA mandates for large employers
01.13.22 UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay blocking Biden administration’s vaccine and testing mandate for large employers, while allowing a separate vaccination mandate for employees of healthcare facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. Read more here.
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On December 17, 2021, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted…
Ransomware Attack on Kronos, Popular Payroll Service
Ultimate Kronos Group, a human resources management business, announced that it has suffered a ransomware attack that has hindered its clients’ ability to process payroll, manage time sheets, and operate their businesses. Scheduling software created for healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and public safety professionals were among the products hacked.
Employers that utilize Kronos may be…
Prepare for the 2022 ACA Reporting Deadlines
The IRS has now proposed regulations for delivering Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095-C reporting forms to employees at the start of 2022 and future years. Here are a few insights from the proposed regulations:
30-Day Extension for Furnishing Forms 1095-C. For calendar years beginning after December 31, 2020, the proposed regulations grant an automatic 30-day…
Vaccine Incentives and Surcharges in Health Plans: The HIPAA Police Weigh In
Premium discounts and surcharges on employee contributions to employer-sponsored health plans based on COVID-19 vaccination status has become a hot topic. On October 4, 2021, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury issued FAQs regarding the application of the HIPAA wellness program rules to vaccine-related premium surcharges and discounts.
HIPAA prohibits group…
Employer Guidance on Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic”
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced a series of proposals to combat the uptick in the COVID-19 pandemic more aggressively. The Plan outlines six main components, some of which will impose new requirements on employers. Included is a plan for “Vaccinating the Unvaccinated,” a rule that will require private employers with 100 or more…
COBRA Administrators Must Prepare and Send Final Rescue Plan Act Subsidy Notices by September 15th
Plan administrators have until September 15, 2021 to distribute notices of the approaching end of the COBRA subsidy period under the American Rescue Plan Act (“Rescue Plan Act”), which by law expires after September 30, 2021.
As we previously discussed in March and April of this year, the Rescue Plan Act requires that Assistance Eligible…