Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Getting “back to normal” as the COVID-19 pandemic has eased has not been simple for anyone. In terms of plan administration, the continued tolling of employee benefit plan deadlines, including those related to continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), has kept plan administrators firmly planted in a “COVID-19 world,” even as […]
We’ve all heard about the “Great Resignation” triggered by the post-COVID environment. Workers are deciding to voluntarily exit the workplace in search of other options. Separately, we have seen the news about a possible economic recession in the near future that could prompt employers to consider “reductions in force” (RIFs). Given the economic turbulence and […]
It is that time of year again—time to plan for and implement annual open enrollment processes. At least it is that time for the typical group health plans that operate on a calendar-year basis. For most plans, this means it is time to reprint plan-related material such as enrollment forms (electronic or otherwise), summary plan […]
In Greek mythology, Panacea was the goddess of universal remedy. She supposedly had a potion of herbs to cure almost any ailment. From the fabled goddess, the English language has adopted the word “panacea” to mean a cure-all or solution to all problems. Often, filing a lawsuit is seen as the way to get all […]
When President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), one of the effects was to make COBRA continuation coverage free for certain qualifying individuals and their families from April 1 to September 30, 2021. The free coverage is available to those who lose group health plan coverage because either (1) they […]
Technically, continuation coverage rules under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) apply to employees of state and local governments. Often, however, the problem is one of enforcement. It is not always easy to prevail in a case alleging continuation coverage violations against a state or local government. One of those reasons could be “sovereign immunity”—a […]
COBRA’s protection only arises upon the occurrence of a “qualifying event.” In other words, COBRA is triggered any time an employee or a dependent loses group health plan coverage. For COBRA to apply, there must be a loss of coverage caused by one of the specific statutory events: termination or reduction in hours of employment, […]
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is top of mind for HR professionals and employers nationwide. Our latest interactive map of COVID-19 cases has been adjusted to reflect the rise in cases in the United States. Read on to view our updated color-coded map, a list of resources, plus an animation showing how our map has developed […]
Let’s face it: We’re all on information overload. The amount of content we are consuming on a minute-by-minute basis in the blurred lines between our personal and professional lives has exploded in this digital economy.
Arizona employers with fewer than 20 employees need to be ready for a new state law requiring them to offer continuation of health insurance benefits for employees and their dependents. The new law applies to health benefits plans sponsored by small employers that are issued or renewed after December 31, 2018.