HR Brief

On April 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule that strengthens the HIPAA Privacy Rule by prohibiting the disclosure of protected health information (PHI) related to lawful reproductive health care in certain situations. The final rule requires covered entities, including health plans, to update their privacy notices…

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Lifeline) launched nationwide on July 16. Similar to dialing 911 for medical emergencies, people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis can call or text 988 and be connected immediately to trained counselors who will listen, provide support and connect them to resources if necessary. The three-digit dialing code is…

Making COVID-19 vaccination part of your workplace wellness program may offer benefits to you and your employees. To aid in keeping their workplace healthy, employers can consider offering free, on-site COVID-19 vaccinations at work locations. This HR Insights article provides an overview of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for workplace vaccination programs….

5 Important Issues to Monitor in 2017

    Overview: Benefits Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter that covers hot benefit topics in depth. This issue includes information about the new overtime rule, penalties for health plan violations, changes proposed to Form 5500 and the 2016 election.

HR Brief – August 2016 This month’s HR Brief clarifies some of the differences between the FMLA, ADA and short-term disability, highlights the importance of enforcing employer policies as written and alerts employers about Exchange subsidy notices.   Employee Leave:  Clarifying STD, FMLA and ADA In addition to the federal requirements under the Family and…

Recent Court Rulings Raise Questions about FMLA The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) clearly states that when an employer knows that a worker taking leave qualifies for FMLA, it must designate the worker’s absence as FMLA leave. Despite this requirement, some employers let employees choose whether to designate their leave as FMLA leave. Two…

5 Important HR Issues to Monitor for 2016  Employers have new challenges to contend with in 2016, resulting from Supreme Court decisions, federal and state legislation, and actions by federal regulatory agencies. There is a real cost for employers who fail to comply with new laws. For example, the most recent Performance Accountability Report for…

EEOC Proposes Rule on GINA’s Impact on Wellness Programs On Oct. 30, 2015, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a proposed rule to amend the regulations implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) as they relate to employer wellness programs that are part of group health plans. GINA protects individuals…