Employee Benefits Archives - Page 53 of 151

EEOC Proposes New Rules on Wellness Programs

by Jacob Mattinson and Sarah Raaii | Jan 26, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Privacy and Data Security

On January 7, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued proposed guidance regarding employer-sponsored wellness programs and the level of incentives employers may offer employees who participate in these programs in the form of two proposed rules. On January 20, 2021, the Biden administration ordered agencies to immediately withdraw most unpublished rules, including the EEOC proposed rules. Agencies may not issue any new regulations until they can be reviewed and approved by agency or department heads appointed or designated by President Biden.

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COVID-19 Stimulus Package Significantly Expands CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credits

by David Fuller, Andrew Liazos, Brian Tiemann and Sarah L. Engle | Jan 21, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which became law on December 27, 2020, makes significant changes to the employee retention tax credits available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). The changes are generally designed to increase the availability, scope and amount of the credits. Significantly, employers that received a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan (or that were related to employers that received a PPP loan) may be able to claim the credit, including retroactively for periods beginning as early as March 13, 2020.

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Consolidated Appropriations Act: Health and Welfare Benefits Provisions

by Jacob Mattinson and Sarah Raaii | Jan 20, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (the Act) was signed into law by the president on December 27, 2020, and includes significant health and welfare benefits provisions that affect group health plans and health insurance issuers. The Act is the most comprehensive single piece of legislation to impact group health plans since the Affordable Care Act.

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Virus Stokes Telemedicine, Mental Health Benefits’ Popularity

by Jacob Mattinson | Jan 19, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Retirement Plans

The COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged 2020 spurred workers to take advantage of telemedicine and mental health benefits more frequently, and demand for those services isn’t expected to wane in the near future, experts say.

A recent article in Law360 examined three ways the pandemic had an impact on employee benefits over the past year, with McDermott partner Jacob Mattinson weighing in.

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New Criminal Obligations on UK Employers and Employees

by Katie Clark and Paul McGrath | Jan 15, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Labor

In September, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect in the United Kingdom. The Regulations, together with earlier updates from the Government of the United Kingdom, require office workers who can work “effectively” from home to do so over the winter. What’s more, potential criminal liability attaches to any employer failure to comply with the Regulations.

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Healthcare and Childcare FSA Fix for 2021, Finally: Special Carryover Rules and More

by Jacob Mattinson | Jan 14, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

The Consolidated Appropriations Act provides tax relief for workers who socked away pre-tax money into flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for 2020 and couldn’t use it because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now employees may be able to carry over all of their unused funds to use later. Even ex-employees might get more time to spend down unused money instead of forfeiting it.

In a recent article in Forbes, McDermott partner Jacob Mattinson speaks to the employer perspective on FSA carryovers.

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COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for Employers

by Michelle S. Strowhiro | Jan 12, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor, Privacy and Data Security

As the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are administered in the United States, employers have much to consider with regard to mandating the vaccine for their employees.

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Healthcare Briefing: Georgia Races to Shape Biden Health Policy

by Rodney Whitlock | Jan 8, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

This week’s runoff elections in Georgia could help President-elect Joe Biden quickly confirm his cabinet and begin in earnest on his healthcare agenda. However, it won’t mean that Democrats will be able to easily make good on their promises to expand on Obamacare, send more funds to states to fight the pandemic or lower the cost of prescription drugs.

In an article for Bloomberg Government, McDermottPlus consultant Rodney Whitlock speaks to the future of healthcare policy in the United States.

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With Everyone Working from Home, What’s the Future of Freelance?

by Michelle S. Strowhiro | Jan 7, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Labor

The freelance space, one of the few sectors to thrive as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis, has seen a surge of openings, especially with the shift to remote work. But the blurred new reality can be bad for freelancers: An employer can have two workers doing essentially the same job, and sometimes what differentiates them is not what they turn in or the gains they make for the company but rather their earnings and insurance status, potentially putting a contractor in a disadvantaged position.

In a recent article from Durrelliot, McDermott partner Michelle Strowhiro explains the importance of establishing clear boundaries for freelancers and employees alike in the era of “working from home.”

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The EEOC Releases First Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccination for Employers

by Michelle S. Strowhiro | Jan 6, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor, Privacy and Data Security

On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its first direct guidance for employers regarding COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Important takeaways from the guidance, as well as FAQs from the EEOC, are discussed in the attached link.

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