Granted, employers are required to go to great lengths to accommodate workers’ disabilities under the ADA. But what happens when an employee’s disability presents a potential safety risk? A recent court ruling on this subject offers some good insight for employers. [Read more...]
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ADA accommodation doesn’t remove safety risk: Now what?
Filed Under: ADA, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views Tagged With: ADA accommodation, ADA discrimination, EEOC, Epilepsy, Olsen v. Capital Region Medical Center
5 ways to improve the success of your voluntary benefits plan
For employers to get the most from their voluntary benefits plans – and improve employee satisfaction with their overall benefits packages – HR managers need to provide clear, comprehensive communication highlighting the advantages of those plans, says Brittany Schmigel of Hyatt Legal Plans, a legal voluntary benefits provider. She has five ways employers can improve their benefits communication. [Read more...]
Filed Under: In this week's e-newsletter, Voluntary Benefits Tagged With: Brittany Schmigel, Hyatt Legal Plans, voluntary benefits plan
Spousal surcharges: Minimizing workers’ resentment
It’s not uncommon for employers to tack on a spousal surcharge when employees’ spouses are enrolled in the company’s health plan if the spouses’ own employers offer health benefits. And in most cases firms just assume the ill will surcharges generate is something that’s out of their hands. But that doesn’t have to be the case. [Read more...]
What would it cost to repeal Obamacare?
At this point, with federal agencies already having spent billions to make sure Obamacare hits its implementation deadline of Jan. 1, 2014, would it be economically feasible for House Republicans to continue to push for the law’s repeal? [Read more...]
Filed Under: Healthcare Reform, In this week's e-newsletter Tagged With: CBO, Congressional Budget Office, Obamacare, repeal
Most firms’ 401ks are potentially illegal, says legal expert
By far, employer-sponsored 401k plans are the most popular savings vehicles out there when it comes to planning for retirement. But are employees getting the best bang for their buck? [Read more...]
Filed Under: 401(k), ERISA, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views Tagged With: ERISA, Fiduciary duty, Illegal, James Kwak, The Baseline Scenario
Breaking down the barrage of new Obamacare guidance & forms
With the main part of the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in a little over half a year, the feds have been very busy releasing new guidance. Here are the highlights of their latest efforts. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Healthcare Reform, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views Tagged With: COBRA Model Election notice, exchange notices, HSA contributions, Obamacare guidance, SBC changes
EEOC hits biz with huge discrimination suit for unconscionable acts
Every once in a while, a discrimination case comes along that provides a horrific reminder of why all those complicated employment laws were created in the first place. [Read more...]
Filed Under: ADA, In this week's e-newsletter Tagged With: ADA, Discrimination, EEOC, Henry's Turkey Service, Hill County Farms
Employer commits $50K GINA mistake: How to avoid the same fate
The first lawsuit ever filed by the EEOC accusing an employer of violating the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) has come to a close. The result? A decisive victory for the EEOC — and some important lessons for employers. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Empoyment Law, In this week's e-newsletter Tagged With: EEOC, Fabricut, GINA
Nightmare scenario: Self-funding oversight costs employer $1.8M
Every self-funded health insurance plan sponsor fears having to pay a massive medical claim. That’s why many sponsors purchase stop-loss coverage. Unfortunately for this employer, it signed a stop-loss policy without reading all of the fine print. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Healthcare Plans, In this week's e-newsletter Tagged With: ANB Insurance, Express Oil Change, self-funded, stop-loss
New Obamacare rules deal big blow to employers
Companies have been hoping that their wellness program incentives will help their health plans meet affordability and minimal value requirements under Obamacare. So chances are they won’t like the guidance the IRS just issued. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Healthcare Reform, In this week's e-newsletter, Special Report, Wellness Tagged With: 'Affordable' coverage, Minimum value, Obamacare guidance, Tobacco, Wellness