A wave of ERISA class-action lawsuits is challenging tobacco surcharge programs in employer-sponsored health plans across the U.S. These cases center on potential fiduciary breaches, with plaintiffs arguing that surcharges...more
11/26/2024
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Breach of Duty ,
Class Action ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Health Plan Sponsors ,
Premiums ,
Surcharges ,
Tobacco ,
Wellness Programs
Employees can contribute more pre-tax dollars next year to their retirement savings accounts, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, according to an IRS announcement made on November 1. Your eligible workers will be able to defer...more
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development has announced important updates to state employment benefits for 2025. The State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) has increased modestly to $1,829.13 from...more
Uber and Lyft just reached a $175 million settlement with Massachusetts state prosecutors that permits their drivers to stay classified as independent contractors – not employees – but entitles the drivers to significant...more
The Supreme Court just rejected an employer’s argument that a whistleblower needs to show the employer acted with retaliatory intent to prove retaliation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), a federal law that protects...more
Does a fired whistleblower need to show their employer acted with retaliatory intent to prove retaliation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)? The Supreme Court has been asked to review the standard of proof in such cases –...more
1/19/2024
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Defense Strategies ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Retaliation ,
Sarbanes-Oxley ,
SCOTUS ,
Standard of Proof ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers
Many people feel emboldened to publicly share their views on all sorts of controversial topics these days – politics, international relations, religion, culture, or any number of other incendiary areas where there are bound...more