Most Popular

EEOC Announces Crackdown on “Systemic” Discrimination

Last week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that strengthening its nationwide approach to investigating and litigating systemic cases of discrimination is now an agency-wide top priority. According to the EEOC, systemic cases involve a “pattern or practice, policy and/or class cases where the alleged discrimination has a broad impact on an industry, […]

IRS Lawyers Discuss Reporting on Offers of Coverage

IRS officials described when employers themselves have to fill out full information on all health plan enrollees along with months enrolled, and when employers can hand that over to another entity, such as an insurer. Most employers offer minimum essential coverage to employees; the purpose of Section 6055 reporting is to demonstrate that they are […]

Bulletin Item: Workers’ Comp Rate Increases Pending

In addition to a 7.2 percent increase to premiums approved by Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, it appears the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Board will seek a 22.5 percent increase to rates. Watch future issues of CEA for additional workers’ compensation information.

Pro-Union Bill Highlights Need for Good Internal Problem Solving

Earlier this week, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) was introduced into both the U.S. House and Senate. Both supporters and opponents of the bill anticipate that the proposed legislation will spark fierce battles over the next few months. Employer advocacy groups have already launched aggressive lobbying efforts to defeat the bill. On the other […]

Retirement Plans: Automatic Enrollment Only Part of Equation for 401(k) Savings; Tips for Ensuring Quality Enrollment

Only 25 percent of the 300 mid- to large-sized employers polled in a survey by global HR-services company Hewitt Associates said they viewed a high participation rate in their 401(k) plans as the prime measure of the plans’ success. The survey indicated that more employers are placing less importance on the number of employees enrolled […]

Women Closing Retirement Balance Gap but Still Need Long-term Strategy

Data from late 2012 show women in the United States closing the gap in defined contribution plan balances and savings rates compared with their male counterparts, but gaps remain in women’s retirement funding strategies that plan sponsors can help address. Although female plan participants long have been known to save less than men for retirement, […]

New Health Benefits Law Goes into Effect this Year

On October 9 of this year a new federal law—called Michelle’s Law—regarding who’s entitled to health benefits will go into effect. The law is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student with cancer who continued with a full course load against her doctor’s advice in order to maintain health benefits under her parents’ […]

Labor Department Loosens LMRDA Reporting Deadline

Under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), private-sector employers that do business with a labor organization (or a trust in which a labor organization has a business) must make an annual disclosure of payments or loans to union officials, which includes a union or its officer, agent, shop steward, employee, or other representative. […]