The following blog was originally posted on June 23, 2016, via Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC. The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its final regulations, issuing changes to Part 541, which govern certain overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for executive, administrative, professional, computer, and outside sales employees. Under current law, certain […]
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Compliance Recap // May 2016
After a quiet few months, federal agencies were quite busy during the month of May, issuing four important final rules that impact employers. Specifically, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued the long-awaited revisions to the white collar exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // April 2016
As much of the country anxiously awaits the Department of Labor’s (DOL) long-promised final rule relating to overtime exemption regulations, the employee benefits space has been relatively quiet. March 31 was the first deadline relating to the IRS reporting of the employer shared responsibility provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and […]
Read moreOvertime Exemption Rules Arrive
After a long wait, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released the revisions to the white collar overtime exemption rules in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The new rule becomes effective on December 1, 2016. Enterprises Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to employees of “enterprises.” Enterprises are: A federal, state, or local […]
Read moreSame-Sex Marriages and Group Health Benefits
From 2013 to 2015, a series of Supreme Court cases and government updates have changed the landscape of the way employers must consider same-sex spouses in relation to employee benefits. Most recently, in June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, that the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between […]
Read moreIRS Notice 2015-87: HRAs, Affordability, and More
IRS Notice 2015-87: HRAs, Affordability, and More On December 16, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other federal agencies released IRS Notice 2015-87, which is a “potpourri” update that covers many different topics relating to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), including some relating to market reforms. The Notice generally covers health […]
Read moreDOL Issues FAQ on Mental Health Parity and ACA Market Reform Provisions
In October 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) provided an informational FAQ relating to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) market reform provisions. Non-grandfathered group health plans and individual or group market health insurance must cover a variety of preventive services without any cost-sharing […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // September 2015
Compliance Recap September 2015 After a slow summer, federal agencies picked up the pace in September, with a large assortment of guidance, proposed rules, and updated forms and instructions. Nondiscrimination regulations were proposed, a temporary safe harbor was announced for summary and benefits of coverage, and the 2015 6055/6056 reporting forms and instructions were finalized, […]
Read moreBenefits and Employment Briefing // Fall 2015
The Surprising Compliance Issues of High Deductible Health Plan/Health Savings Account Arrangements As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes into complete fruition, many employers are offering to employees High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and facilitating the establishment and funding of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read more ACA Cadillac Tax: IRS Issues […]
Read moreAffordable Care Act Information Returns
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), individuals are required to have health insurance while applicable large employers (ALEs) are required to offer health benefits to their full-time employees. In order for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to verify that (1) individuals have the required minimum essential coverage, (2) individuals who request premium […]
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