Paid Family Leave: Washington State Follows California’s Lead
Washington State has followed in California’s lead, becoming just the second state in the nation to create a paid family leave system.
Most Popular
Preventive Care Problem: Less Than Half of Insured Adults Utilize Available Measures
When Cigna Corporation concluded its Preventive Care Survey of insured employees, there were a few results that were surprising and concerning. Perhaps the most shocking was that only 45% of respondents knew that they should have an annual checkup—but 85% knew that their pets should!
ACA Makes Wellness Programs Even More Important
In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Frank C. Morris Jr. covered legal issues around wellness programs; today, his take on how the ACA will make wellness even more attractive for employers, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. Your wellness program may get way more important under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), says Morris, a member […]
Federal Contractors: OFCCP’s New Compliance Approach Gives Employers a Heads Up Before Audits
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which enforces laws requiring certain federal contractors and subcontractors to prepare and maintain affirmative action programs, has launched a new program to give contractors advance warning that they’ve been targeted for a compliance audit.
Wellness—Doing the Fed’s Dance for Compliance
Wellness becomes a tricky dance once you want to base incentives on an actual health outcome—like reduced blood pressure or cholesterol. Fortunately, DOL offers a checklist to help you determine whether your program is in compliance. HIPAA’s nondiscrimination provisions generally prohibit a group health plan or group health insurance issuer from denying an individual eligibility […]
Meal Breaks
Employer Fears Lead to Discrimination Against Disabled Workers, Agency Charges
Employers need more guidance on their responsibilities under the ADA Amendments Act, according to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency. “NCD’s stakeholders consistently list discrimination as one of the primary barriers keeping them out of the workforce,” according to a progress report released by the NCD in October. Because of employers’ fears […]
Bulletin Item: Another Retailer Sued for Allegedly Requiring Clothing Purchases
Chico’s FAS is defending itself against a lawsuit brought by a former employee who claims she was required to purchase Chico clothing while working for the retailer. Chico’s says it merely encourages employees to wear its clothing, providing them with discounts on their purchases. This is just the latest in a string of similar lawsuits […]
Feds Ask for High Court in Hobby Lobby After Contrasting Rulings Delivered
On Sept. 18, three federal agencies — Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury — petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn 10th Circuit’s decision in Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, No. 12-6294 (10th Cir., June 27, 2013), after that court ruled in favor of the owner’s right to project his RFRA rights not to comply […]
Benefits: DOL Issues Final Rules on COBRA Notice Requirements
Employees whose group health coverage terminates may have COBRA continuation rights to coverage in certain circumstances. Now the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released its final rules on notice requirements under COBRA, which covers employers with 50 or more employees. Because the final rules differ in some respects from the proposed rules, it’s a […]