Updates for Employers on Important Workplace Issues
The IRS, in Notice 2021-61 has announced increased 401(k) plan limits for 2022. Here is what you need to know:
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On Monday, November 8, 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation entitled, “Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel” (the “Proclamation”). The Proclamation revokes prior presidential proclamations that suspended and restricted the entry of noncitizen nonimmigrants from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, the Republic of South Africa,…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued new COVID-19 rules for most employers in the private sector with 100 or more employees. The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on Vaccination and Testing became effective on November 5, 2021. However, just one day after on November 6, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued…
As some new laws became effective in 2021 and others take effect in 2022, it’s time for employers to update their employee handbooks. This article summarizes some developments that may require new policies or revisions to existing ones.
FMLA Policy: On January 1, 2022, Connecticut’s FMLA will be expanded to cover nearly all employers. The…
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…
Connecticut Governor, Ned Lamont recently issued a new Executive Order (EO 13G) that requires certain employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 by September 27, 2021. The mandate applies to: current and future state employees, state hospital employees, public and non-public pre-K to grade 12 school system employees and child care center, group child care home, family…
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…
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…
As the Delta variant has caused another wave of COVID cases and hospitalizations, employers are again asking whether they can mandate that their employees become vaccinated against COVID-19 and what other steps should be taken to protect those who are immunocompromised or who remain unvaccinated. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Occupational…
In 49 out of 50 states (Montana being the exception) the default status of employment arrangements between employers and employees is “at will.” This ostensibly means what it sounds like it means—i.e., employees can quit whenever and for whatever reason they choose, and employers can fire an employee for any reason so long as it’s…
