Employees increasingly request (and expect) choice in their benefits. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Private Letter Ruling 202434006 (PLR), which approved an employer's program allowing employees to...more
SECURE 2.0 became law on December 29, 2022. It has something for all retirement plans, and its provisions should be reviewed by all retirement plan sponsors. It aims to increase retirement savings and expand retirement...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued model notices and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the COBRA subsidy (see COBRA Premium Subsidy guidance) made available under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021...more
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides a 100 percent COBRA subsidy to eligible individuals from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021 (Assistance Period). Eligible individuals pay nothing, and employers receive a...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance on best practices for locating missing participants in defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans. While the guidance does not provide a safe harbor, and...more
The COVID-19 pandemic and the proliferation of employees working remotely has prompted employers of every size to contend with new questions about laws applicable to their workers in distant locations. Depending on whether...more
2/2/2021
/ Compliance ,
E-3 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employees ,
Flexible Work Arrangements ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Reimbursements ,
Remote Working ,
Telecommuting ,
Wage and Hour
Many plan committees will be holding their Q4 meetings soon, and should begin reviewing compliance with recently issued final rules governing investments in plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued final regulations regarding electronic delivery of retirement plan documents required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The new rules only apply to...more
On April 11, 2020, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued new COVID-19 FAQs regarding health plans. This advisory summarizes the key components of the FAQs, including notice requirements for...more
Employers impacted by COVID-19 have a variety of questions regarding the situation’s effect on employee health and welfare plans - particularly on how to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations....more
This advisory summarizes key provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) applying to employee benefit plans. We provide a summary of key items and more detailed FAQs relating to...more
3/30/2020
/ 401k ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defined Contribution Plans ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Hardship Distributions ,
Payroll Taxes ,
Relief Measures ,
Retirement Plan ,
Student Loans ,
Tax Credits ,
Telehealth
Proposed IRS and DOL regulations have been issued expanding permitted uses for health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). These proposals follow recent regulations on association health plans, both stemming from President...more
Are you an employer with employees in Oregon? If you do not offer a retirement plan to any of your employees, read on for your obligations under a new state-run retirement savings program called OregonSaves. If you do...more
The 21st Century Cures Act allows small employers to reimburse employees on a pre-tax basis for medical care expenses (including premiums for individual health insurance policies). Under transition relief issued on February...more
The IRS has extended the relief available to employers who offer an “opt-out” payment to employees who decline company medical coverage. This means that for 2017, such payments, whether conditional or unconditional, will not...more
In the ever-increasing push to “go green,” many employers are opting to distribute required notices and disclosures to employees via e-mail or through website postings. Plan sponsors are asking: Can an employer rely on an...more
The IRS has published Notice 2014-19 and related FAQs regarding the application of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor and Rev. Ruling 2013-17 to qualified retirement plans. All retirement plans should be...more
Wellness plans must comply with complex final regulations that were issued last year by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (collectively, the “Departments”). To help plans from falling off...more
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Windsor v. United States holding that same-sex marriages valid under state law are now recognized at the federal level, thereby transforming the treatment of...more
7/1/2013
/ Civil Unions ,
COBRA ,
DOMA ,
Domestic Partnership ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Equal Protection ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Hollingsworth v Perry ,
Income Taxes ,
Proposition 8 ,
Retirement Plan ,
Same-Sex Marriage ,
SCOTUS ,
Standing ,
US v Windsor
News articles, social media, protests, and lunchroom conversation were all dedicated to the two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Hollingsworth v. Perry and Windsor v. United States could potentially transform...more
On Nov. 6, 2012, Washington voters approved same-sex marriage in Washington state. This advisory explains the impact of this new law on employee benefit plans and procedures, and revisits the treatment of employee benefits...more