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IRS Offers Temporary Safe Harbor for Some Premium Reimbursement Arrangements

Small employers and certain other plan sponsors can continue to reimburse individual premiums until July 1, without the threat of extreme penalties for offering coverage that does not comply with Affordable Care Act insurance mandates, under new guidance from the Internal Revenue Service. IRS Notice 2015-17 reiterates IRS’ previous warning, in Notice 2013-54, that giving employees […]

PUMP It Up! Breastfeeding Accommodations in the Workplace

The ability to pump breast milk in the workplace is protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In 2010, the Break Time for Nursing Mother Act was passed as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and amended the FLSA to include break time and space requirements to pump breast milk at work. The […]

Pay Attention to Employer Considerations Following Wave of 401(k) Forfeiture Lawsuits

Over the past year, numerous employers and their 401(k) plan fiduciaries have faced lawsuits regarding how forfeited employer contributions to their 401(k) plan are used. This wave of lawsuits began approximately a year ago when an employees’ law firm filed putative class action lawsuits raising this novel claim in California federal courts against multiple large […]

The Optimistic Workplace—Avoid These Missteps

In his new book The Optimistic Workplace: Creating an Environment that Energizes Everyone, management and leadership consultant Shawn Murphy tackles the challenge of creating just such an optimistic organization and argues that our best work is the product of a positive environment.

Can We Hire a Foreign Exchange Student as an Intern?

We are an accounting firm that frequently hires area college students to intern for short periods throughout the year. We recently received a few outstanding applications from foreign students attending the local college.  Can we hire foreign students as interns? The short answer is that yes, foreign students are eligible for paid employment off campus, […]

Four Years of Workplace Evolution Four Years on from COVID-19

Four years ago, the world of work underwent a tectonic transformation with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conventional norms of work, entrenched in commutes and linear office hours, were suddenly upended as the virus rendered the physical aspect of work impossible, for a limited time at least.  Then came the call for everyone […]

The EEOC Continues to Take a Stand Against DEI Programs  

Almost two years ago, in March 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a Charge of Discrimination against Nike, alleging that aspects of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policies may have resulted in discrimination against white employees and job applicants. Most recently, in an escalation of its investigation, on February 4, 2026, the EEOC took the unusual step of filing a subpoena […]