Ask the Expert: Clarifying Protected Health Information Under HIPAA Privacy Rule
Question: Are payroll deductions for employee medical plan coverage considered protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA regulations?
Tag: Employment law
Elections have consequences: Changes in the employment arena are on the horizon
by Judith E. Kramer and Sean D. Lee With the election of Donald Trump, there is no question that there will be upheaval in many areas of the law. Even in the discrete area of labor and employment law, the prognostications could fill many blog posts. In this article, we focus on the employment-related Executive […]
COBRA: Proper Mailing Procedures Trump Address Mistake
by Gwen Cofield Although an employer or plan administrator is not required to ensure actual receipt of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) notice, a good-faith effort to provide the COBRA notice must be made. Where an administrative error prevents the receipt of the COBRA notice, an employer or plan administrator can demonstrate good-faith […]
Do not repeat the mistakes of your diva
Preparation pays off. While it may be well known that “practice, practice, practice” gets you to Carnegie Hall, it appears you don’t even need to do the sound check to play Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Mariah Carey’s performance to close out the year may have felt like a fitting end to 2016, a year that has caught so […]
9 steps employers can take to address mental illness at work
By Eowynne Noble Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a common type of depression, often arises when the daylight hours get shorter, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a leading Canadian hospital. With the winter months upon us, many of us will experience the winter blues, but for some the blues may be a […]
Resolve to make 2017 better than years past
by Jodi R. Bohr As we put another year is in the books and look toward the promise of a new year, we may make (and hopefully keep) personal resolutions. But as HR professionals, we ought to make resolutions—or at least consider changes—to improve the processes we use daily, weekly, or even annually. Take this […]
Paycheck transparency: Are you ready for January 1 implementation?
by H. Juanita M. Beecher Although a Texas federal district court judge barred the implementation of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (FPSW) final rule, the paycheck transparency requirements of FPSW are still scheduled to become effective for federal contractors with new contracts worth more than $500,000 issued after January 1, 2017. For new contracts […]
When are criminal charges none of your business?
by Hannah Roskey Off-duty misconduct could lead to an employee’s dismissal. But a recent court decision in Ontario suggests that the circumstances where that will amount to just cause for termination are quite limited. The court found that an employee who had been fired after being criminally charged with sexual assault was wrongfully dismissed. The […]
Which employer mandates are on Trump’s chopping block?
Employers can expect some relief from federal requirements under the Trump administration, especially those put in place under President Obama. New pay reporting requirements and the overtime rules almost certainly are doomed, as are new requirements for contractors, attorneys from Fortney & Scott predicted during a recent webinar. On the other hand, employers are likely […]
‘Twas the holiday spirit come around again (and just in time)
by Vanessa L. Towarnicky ‘Twas the month of December, the holiday season, New year ’round the corner, my mind taxed beyond reason. The workplace has been digitized down to an app. My records and files appear with a tap. As do Pidgey and Horsea and even Hypno, My Millennials have got me playing Pokémon GO. […]