JP Griffin Group

On March 11, 2021, the DOL announced a proposal to rescind the independent contractor final rule. The final rule was published on Jan. 7, 2021 and is scheduled to become effective on May 7, 2021. The DOL’s position is that adopting the rule would significantly weaken worker protections under the FLSA.

On March 29, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2021-21, which extends tax deadlines for filing Form 1040 series returns and other deadlines to May 17, 2021. The Notice, issued as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, follows a prior IRS extension of the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year.

Pet insurance has been a trendy benefit offering in recent years. This article explains why employers should consider adding pet insurance to their voluntary benefits packages.

On March 29, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that its portal for employers to begin submitting equal employment opportunity (EEO) data from 2019 and and 2020 will open on April 26, 2021. This Legal Update provides more information about the announcement.

This month's Benefits Buzz discusses the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and its employment-related provisions, including additional detail regarding the COBRA subsidy provisions.

Industry trends, protocols and in-demand skills are always changing. Especially in today’s job market, employers can remain competitive by prioritizing employee learning and development efforts.

In a matter of months, Amazon Care will be expanding its telehealth services to the rest of the country, where any interested employer may join.

Working remotely doesn’t always come naturally to employees, especially among those who are used to the accountability of in-person workplaces. With this in mind, employers may need to step in to help facilitate productivity and attentiveness—particularly when working in person isn’t an option. 

The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, contains a 100% subsidy for COBRA premiums during the period April 1 - Sept. 30, 2021. This Compliance Bulletin provides information about the subsidy, including eligibility, coverage, notice requirements and funding.

This month's Benefits Breakdown explores five ways to keep employees engaged with their benefits year-round and explains the benefits of such education. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring managers are struggling to get candidates in the door. Recruiting budgets have been slashed and departments are wondering how to coordinate interviews, let alone find talent. How can teams adapt? The answer is virtual recruitment.

The remote workplace is here to stay, but its role may change. This article discusses post-pandemic workplace trends, the advantages and challenges of on-site and remote workplaces, and strategies for hybrid model workplaces. 

On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposal to rescind the Independent Contractor final rule. The rule was originally published in January, but its effective date has been delayed as the result of a freeze the Biden administration ordered on regulatory changes adopted late into the previous administration.

On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposal to rescind the 2020 Joint Employer Determination Rule (the Rule). Joint employment or co-employment situations arise when two or more organizations share the control and supervision of one or more employees. 

Due to the recently enacted hospital price transparency rule, hospitals around the country must begin listing standard charges and other pricing data on their websites. 

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, a relief bill benefiting individuals, governments and businesses, among others. 

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, a relief bill benefiting individuals, governments and businesses, among others. 

On Feb. 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) withdrew opinion letter FLSA2019-10 to revert to its previous, more employee-friendly guidance on how to determine whether time drivers spend in a sleeper berth is compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The foods and beverages you consume have a significant impact on your health. The newest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) offers science-based nutrition advice to develop healthy eating habits and reduce chronic disease risk.

Large employers with any employees in California may be subject to a new state law that requires annual reporting, according to answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) issued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).

On Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its enforcement and litigation data from the 2020 fiscal year.

This HR Insights article examines the top 10 reasons for workplace discrimination claims and what employers can do to prevent retaliation lawsuits.

On Feb. 12, 2021, the EEOC withdrew two proposed rules it previously issued in January 2021, on wellness programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). 

Often a result of extreme winter or other severe weather, a power outage can leave a workplace without the heat or lights on, and the impact can extend to employees’ homes—and their personal safety. Employee relations are critical before, during and after a crisis, and this article provides considerations for HR professionals and leaders.

The Biden administration recently announced a 14-day period of the SBA's PPP where only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief through the program. This News Brief explains further. 

A federal appeals court has held that an employer may count both “on” and “off” weeks against the FMLA leave entitlement of an employee on a rotating schedule.

California has opened its portal for employers to file workforce pay and hour data with the state by March 31, 2021, as required under Senate Bill 973. This update provides more information about the new requirement and reporting portal.

This Compliance Bulletin provides an overview of labor and employment laws California adopted throughout 2020 with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2021. 

According to a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, paid military leave is required by USERRA if employers provide payment for comparable nonmilitary leaves.

New for 2021, this Workplace Technology Trends quarterly newsletter features how to support employee mental health and the latest learning and development trends

New for 2021, this HR Industry Insights quarterly newsletter highlights HR trends for the manufacturing industry. This edition explores recruiting during COVID-19 and addressing skill gaps by developing talent internally.

Recently, the Biden administration told the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act. This News Brief explains further.

Recently, a federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, certified a nationwide class-action lawsuit seeking damages of more than $150 million involving ACA insurance policies. This News Brief explains further.

On Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) proposed delaying the effective date for the Independent Contractor final rule from Mar. 8, 2021 to May 7, 2021. (Added 2/9)

On Feb. 5, 2021, Virginia passed a new law that legalizes recreational marijuana and expands an existing provision that prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their marijuana-related backgrounds. This Legal Update provides information about the new law. 

During January 2021, the DOL issued nine opinion letters to clarify how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies to various employment situations. Five letters address specific issues on how to apply existing FLSA exemption requirements to specific situations. Two letters address issues regarding adequate calculation and payment of employee tips. However, the DOL withdrew three of these letters because their publication was “premature.”

On Feb. 2, 2021, the IRS provided two additional codes from Code Series 1 that can be used on Form 1095-C, line 14, for reporting offers of individual coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) under Section 6056. This Legal Update provides an overview of the additional codes that are now available. 

HR technology can enhance the overall employee experience, transform businesses and help organizations respond to change. This article explores HR technology trends to watch for in 2021.

President Joe Biden has signed two executive actions addressing health care access. This News Brief explains further.

Within hours of his inauguration, President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring all federal agencies to ensure rules and regulations prohibit workplace discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, expanding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.

On Jan. 19, 2021, HHS extended an existing transition policy for certain health plans that do not comply with the ACA for an additional year, to policy years beginning on or before Oct. 1, 2022. This ACA Compliance Bulletin describes the extended transition policy, which applies to certain individual and small group policies.

On Jan. 19, 2021, HHS published a Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2022 that finalized some of the standards included in the proposed notice issued at the end of 2020. The remaining provisions from the proposed notice, such as the updated cost-sharing limit and affordability exemption percentage, are expected to be finalized in a second notice that will be issued later in the year. This Legal Update provides a brief overview of the provisions that were finalized.

As prescription drug costs continue to increase, it’s important to understand the trends behind them and how to better manage your organization’s health care expenses. Learn more with this infographic.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, includes many provisions affecting employers, group health plan sponsors, health benefits brokers and health insurance issuers. This Compliance Overview summarizes the employee benefits provisions relating to tax-favored accounts, surprise medical billing, health care transparency and mental health parity. It also includes various tax provisions that may be of interest to employers.

This article examines prescription drug trends and what employers can do to help reduce their health care expenditures.

Since 2020, employers have been able to offer individual coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) to help employees pay for individual health insurance. On Jan. 13, 2021, the IRS issued a final rule to clarify the application of the pay or play rules and Section 105(h) nondiscrimination rules to ICHRAs. This Compliance Bulletin provides an overview of the provisions in the final rule.

This article explores trends for employee mental health benefits and why safeguarding employees’ overall well-being has become fundamental in 2021.

Recruiting has never been simple, but it’s becoming even more difficult in this tight labor market. This HR Insights explores four trends that could help your efforts in 2021.

On Jan. 15, 2021, the Department of Labor published the civil penalty amounts that may be imposed on employers under various federal laws for 2021. The increased amounts apply to civil penalties that are assessed after Jan. 15, 2021. This Compliance Bulletin summarizes the new penalty amounts.

On Jan. 7, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an opinion letter addressing employer contributions to Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and compliance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). This Legal Update includes key points of the opinion letter.

Employers must comply with numerous reporting and disclosure requirements throughout the year in connection with their group health plans. This Compliance Overview explains key 2021 compliance deadlines for employer-sponsored group health plans. It also outlines group health plan notices that employers must provide annually.

This article covers some of the wellness trends to look out for in 2021.

Employers should stay apprised of notable telehealth trends to ensure they stay competitive and provide the best health care options to their employees. This article discusses five telehealth trends to watch for in 2021.

Voluntary benefits have always been great tools for rounding off employee benefits offerings. These add-on perks allow for more personalization that can help satisfy the unique needs of each individual. This article outlines three voluntary benefits trends to watch for in 2021.

A strong employer brand is critical to attracting ideal candidates and retaining top talent. Learn more about employer branding with this infographic.

On Dec. 10, 2020, HHS issued a proposed rule that would make certain changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. While many of the proposals primarily impact health care providers and their patients, a number of proposed provisions will also have an impact on employer-sponsored health plans. This Compliance Bulletin provides an overview of the changes affecting employer-sponsored plans included in the proposed rule.

On Dec. 31, 2020, the DOL issued two additional answers to questions in its series of Q&As on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The new Q&As address employees’ entitlement to FFCRA leave after Dec. 31, 2020, and their right to payment for FFCRA leave taken before Dec. 31, 2020. This Legal Update discusses the new Q&As.

On Jan. 7, 2021, the EEOC issued two proposed rules on wellness programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA). This Compliance Bulletin provides an overview of the proposed amendments to the wellness program rules

Open enrollment is something employers probably only think about a few times a year. For employees, it might be even less often. This article offers five steps for providing employees with thoughtful, year-round benefits engagement.

On Jan. 29, 2021, the IRS updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) on tax credits available to employers for providing paid employee leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The updates address the recent extension of tax credits to employers who choose to offer FFCRA leave through March 31, 2021

HR departments are given more and more responsibility each year, oftentimes with budgets that don’t match. This means HR teams must constantly seek ways to innovate and stay on top of trends if they want to compete in the marketplace, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, here are five HR trends to watch for in 2021.

On Jan. 6, 2021, the DOL issued a final rule that clarifies how to determine whether a worker is an employee who is protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor who is exempt from it. This Legal Update provides additional information about the final rule, which goes into effect on March 8, 2021

On Dec. 16, 2020, the IRS and the Treasury Department published final regulations for qualified transportation fringe benefits and commuting expenses. The regulations follow changes to deductions in this area made by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This Legal Update discusses the final regulations.

On Dec. 29, 2020, the DOL issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-7, which addresses when the DOL will consider electronic posting by employers sufficient to provide employees with required notice of their statutory rights under a variety of federal labor laws. This Compliance Bulletin summarizes the current posting requirements, and explains how electronic means of satisfying these requirements can be achieved.

ACA reporting under Section 6055 and Section 6056 for the 2020 calendar year is due in early 2021. Although the IRS extended the deadline for furnishing statements to individuals for 2020, the deadline for filing returns with the IRS remains the same. This ACA Bulletin outlines the deadlines for ACA reporting for the 2020 calendar year.

On Dec. 22, 2020, the IRS issued the 2021 optional standard mileage rates, which are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

On Dec. 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule to amend employee tip regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

On Dec. 22, 2020, the U.S. DOL announced a final rule revising its tipped employee regulations to address amendments made to section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (CAA). This Compliance Bulletin provides the DOL's answers to FAQs about this new final rule.

On Dec. 4, 2020, HHS published its proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2022, which describes benefit and payment parameters under the ACA that would apply for the 2022 benefit year. 

Educate your workforce on cancer, risk factors, and prevention through this handy infographic.

Educate your workforce on cancer, risk factors, and prevention through this informative article. (added 12/17)

On Dec. 11, 2020, the Departments announced a final rule that provides greater flexibility for grandfathered plans under the ACA. The final rule may allow additional plans to maintain their grandfather status, despite certain changes being made to the plan. This Legal Update provides an overview of the final rule. (Added 12/11)

Employee benefits aren’t always simple. In fact, for many young employees, they’re downright confusing. This article outlines five ways employers can start informing young employees about their benefits right away. (Added 12/8)

On Dec. 4, 2020, the U.S. House voted to remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act. This Legal Update provides more information about the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. (Added 12/8)

This Benefits Insights article explores the Biden administration's proposed COVID-19 response, general health care platform and top agenda items. (Added 12/3)

The IRS has issued a letter saying that employees may apply unused commuter transit benefit amounts to parking benefits in certain circumstances. This Legal Update discusses the IRS letter. (Added 12/2)

improving workplace efficiency is about helping employees work smarter, not harder. This article discusses how HR departments can improve efficiencies through process improvements and technology that can help shift their focus from administrative tasks to high-impact tasks—like strategy, employee engagement and change management. (Added 12/1)

The IRS published Notice 2020-84, which provides the adjusted PCORI fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2021. This Legal Update provides an overview of the IRS' guidance. (Added 12/1)