Tag: news

COBRA Bills Face Uncertain Future as Federal Subsidy Begins to Expire

Update Dec. 21, 2009: President signs bill including COBRA subsidy extension By Ashley Gillihan and Carolyn Smith When Congress returned to session today, health care reform wasn’t the only piece of major legislation still left hanging as 2010 comes to a close. Also up in the air is whether the current COBRA health insurance subsidy […]

Many Implications for Employers in Senate Health Care Reform Bill

Read the latest news on health care reform efforts in Congress and how they will affect employers In a 60-39 party-line vote, U.S. Senate Democrats voted last night to begin full debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), a comprehensive 2,074-page health care reform bill. The legislation, which Senate Majority Leader […]

DOL Hires 250 New Wage and Hour Investigators

If a recent news release from U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis is any indication, 2010 may prove to be a year of ramped-up enforcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In her November 19 statement, Secretary Solis sent a clear message about the enforcement and outreach efforts occurring within the DOL’s Wage and […]

Senate Health Care Reform Bill’s Impact on Employers

After weeks of negotiating, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) finally unveiled a highly anticipated health care reform bill Wednesday night called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The 2,074-page bill is a combination of two different health care reform bills approved by Senate committees earlier this year. Reid revealed the Senate bill […]

Congress Members Introduce More Paid Sick Leave Legislation

U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) introduced legislation yesterday that would guarantee paid sick leave for employees infected by the H1N1 virus (also known as “swine flu”). The legislation would take effect 15 days after being signed into law but would end after two years. According to Dodd and DeLauro’s […]

Holidays 2009 Survey Results

Each year, HR Hero Line surveys its readers about what days they will be off at the holidays and in the coming year. Most of you will have a paid holiday later this month on both Thanksgiving Day and the day after, while about 36% of you will get off on Thanksgiving Day only. Christmas […]

House Passes Momentous Health Care Reform Legislation

In a 220-215 vote, House Democrats passed a controversial health care reform bill with only one Republican voting for the legislation. The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) is a combination of three different health care reform bills approved by House committees this summer and is 1,990 pages with a 42-page manager’s amendment. […]

Senators Introduce Another COBRA Subsidy Extension Bill

Update Dec. 21, 2009: President signs bill including COBRA subsidy extension Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) introduced the COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (S. 2730) this week in the U.S. Senate. The proposed bill would extend the original federal COBRA subsidy created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 […]