Legislative News

2022 Changes and Increases to Health Savings Account and HDHP Limits

2023-04-17T11:22:53-04:00June 17th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Health Savings Accounts, Legislative News|

In May, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the 2022 health savings account (HSA) annual contribution limit and the 2022 high deductible health plan (HDHP) definitional limit per Internal Revenue Code Section 223. Under Revenue Procedure 2021-25 the limits for [...]

Correction: COVID Sick Leave Effective Date for Massachusetts

2023-04-17T11:22:54-04:00June 10th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, COVID-19 Updates, Legislative News, Massachusetts News|

Last week we notified you about the new Massachusetts COVID sick leave law that we believed took effect on June 7 based on the text of the bill that was available on the state legislature’s website. At that time, the state [...]

Massachusetts Passes Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave

2023-04-17T11:22:55-04:00June 7th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News, Massachusetts News|

Starting June 7, employers are required to provide paid COVID-19 sick leave to employees who can’t work because of COVID. COVID sick leave is in addition to other leaves the employer provides, whether required by law or provided as part of [...]

FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Emergency Declaration

2023-04-17T11:22:56-04:00June 1st, 2021|2021, Automotive Industry News, General Industry News, Labor News, Legislative News|

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration once again is extending temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other “regulatory relief” for commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting items intended to assist with COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts. Announced May 26, the extension of Emergency Declaration 2020-002, initially [...]

Massachusetts Updates Premium Pay Under Blue Laws

2023-04-17T11:22:56-04:00May 28th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, Labor News, Legislative News, Massachusetts News|

Massachusetts has made several revisions to its “blue laws” that require most employers that are retailers to pay premium pay for work on certain holidays. First, the Commonwealth has designated Juneteenth Independence Day, June 19, as a legal holiday. [...]

OSHA Reversal: Recording Vaccine Reactions in the Workplace

2023-04-17T11:22:57-04:00May 27th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News, Safety Tips|

Employers that encourage or require workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus must carefully navigate legal requirements and government recommendations—but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently gave employers a break by saying they don't have to record [...]

OSHA Imposes New Rule For Employer-Required COVID-19 Vaccines

2023-04-17T11:23:34-04:00May 7th, 2021|2021, COVID-19 Updates, General Industry News, Labor News, Legislative News, Safety Tips|

New guidance from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is causing some to change their COVID-19 vaccine requirements. On April 20, OSHA released the new guidance in the frequently asked questions section of its website for COVID-19 safety compliance. The [...]

DOL Guidance Focuses on 401(k)-to-IRA Rollover Advice

2023-04-17T11:23:36-04:00April 19th, 2021|2021, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News|

Investment advisors who encourage employees to roll over their 401(k) savings into an individual retirement account (IRA) must adhere to the "investor's best interest" fiduciary standard, and do so from the first conversations about rolling over fund assets—if the [...]

Important Update: DOL Issues COBRA Subsidy Guidance and Model Notices

2023-04-17T11:23:37-04:00April 12th, 2021|2021, Benefits Administration, COVID-19 Updates, Employee Benefits, Employee Benefits Legislation, Labor News, Legislative News|

On April 7, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) published FAQs to further explain this COBRA subsidy and provided models of the required related notices. Notable Points from the FAQs Eligibility Based on Reduction in Hours.   The FAQs take an expansive view [...]