The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a number of inflation adjusted tax items for 2012, including the amounts excludable from gross income for certain employer provided transportation benefits. By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement related items for tax year 2012. In general, many of the pension plan limitations will change for 2012 because the

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published new and revised information that explains workers' and employers' rights, as well as how to protect workers from hazards in the construction, general and maritime industries. New OSHA Safety and Health

The Social Security Administration has announced that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 3.6 percent in 2012. The 3.6 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act requires employers with 5 or more employees to grant an employee disabled by pregnancy a reasonable period of time for disability leave (up to 4 months), called pregnancy disability leave or PDL. PDL is

The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has released an updated poster which includes “gender identity or expression” as a basis of prohibited discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, and credit transactions. The new poster is dated October

The following states have announced an increase in minimum wage rates, effective January 1, 2012 Arizona The state minimum wage will increase to $7.65 per hour. Florida The minimum wage will increase to $7.67 per hour for non tipped employees

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has scheduled a free webinar for employers, tax professionals, small businesses and other affected parties about the new requirement to report employer provided health care coverage on Form W 2. The webinar will take place

In a letter to Congress dated October 14, the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that there is currently no viable path forward for implementation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS)

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has postponed the implementation date for its new notice posting rule by more than 2 months in order to allow for enhanced education and outreach to employers, particularly those who operate small and medium

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has announced a 60 day postponement of the effective date for the final rule concerning the wage methodology for the temporary nonagricultural employment H 2B program, until November 30, 2011. The

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a new program that will enable many employers to resolve past worker classification issues and achieve certainty under the tax law at a low cost by voluntarily reclassifying their workers. The new program

As a reminder, the Medicare fall Open Enrollment Period now begins on October 15 and ends December 7. This means the deadline for employers who provide prescription drug coverage to distribute required creditable coverage disclosure notices to Medicare eligible participants

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has entered into a series of agreements with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as well as several state labor commissioners and other agency leaders, designed to improve departmental efforts to end the business practice

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced that it will re propose its rule on the definition of a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The new proposed rule is expected to

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has announced that the state minimum wage will rise to $8.80 per hour, effective January 1, 2012. Oregon Minimum Wage Increases to $8.80 Per Hour Beginning Jan. 1, 2012 Revised minimum wage posters

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued guidance designed to clarify the tax treatment of employer provided cell phones. Under the new guidance, where employers provide cell phones to their employees or where employers reimburse employees for business use of

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has released an updated model notice for employers to provide information on eligibility for premium assistance under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Required Notice to Employees of

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are requesting public comment on a proposed affordability safe harbor for employers under the shared responsibility provisions included in the Affordable Care Act that will apply to certain employers starting in 2014.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued Technical Release 2011 03, which sets forth an interim policy regarding the use of electronic media to satisfy disclosure requirements under the previously published final participant level fee

The Internal Revenue Service is providing tax relief to individual and business taxpayers impacted by Hurricane Irene. Tax Relief for Hurricane Irene Victims Postpones Certain Deadlines to Oct. 31, 2011 The IRS has announced that certain taxpayers in Connecticut, Massachusetts,

The poster that employers will be required to display to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act is now available for download. Employers may print out the notice in color or black and white on one 11

As the upcoming filing extension tax deadlines approach, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a new round of outreach to small employers and the professional service providers they rely

Oregon has amended its laws regarding jury duty leave effective January 1, 2012. New Oregon Jury Duty Provisions Applicable to All Employers Employers may not require an employee to use vacation, sick leave or annual leave for time spent by

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a final rule that will require employers to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act by posting a notice as of November 14, 2011. The 11 by 17

The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight has issued guidance that exempts stand alone Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) in effect prior to Sept. 23, 2010 from having to comply with the Affordable Care Act's annual limit requirements for plan

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued proposed rules outlining the basic standards employers must meet to voluntarily participate in a SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program). The Affordable Care Act directs each state that operates

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued proposed regulations relating to the health insurance premium tax credit enacted by the Affordable Care Act. The tax credit is designed to reduce certain individuals' out of pocket premium costs for enrolling in

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury have proposed new rules that establish standards for group health plans to provide, without charge, a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC), as well as a uniform glossary of

Paid leave benefits continued to be the most widely available benefit offered by employers, with paid vacations available to 91% of full time workers in private industry in March 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in July. Access to

On August 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted additional Guidelines for Women's Preventive Services requiring new health insurance plans to cover women's preventive services such as well woman visits, breastfeeding support, domestic violence screening,

Effective July 15, 2011, employers submitting new hire reports in New York will be required to report whether dependent health insurance benefits are available and, if so, the date employees qualify for benefits. Under the new hire reporting requirements, employers

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has released a final rule amending the initial compliance dates for its retirement plan fee disclosure rules. The amendments adopted by the final rule are effective as of July 15,

On July 1, 2011, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law a bill—the first of its kind in the U.S.—that requires employers of 50 or more employees to provide annual paid sick leave to each of the employer’s service workers

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has released an updated state poster showing the hours and times of day that minors are permitted to work, which Wisconsin employers are required to display in the workplace. The new poster is dated

Updated Connecticut Discrimination Poster The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has released an updated state discrimination poster, which Connecticut employers are required to display in the workplace. The new poster is dated June 24, 2011. To download and

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (the Departments) have issued an amendment to the interim final regulations implementing the requirements regarding internal claims and appeals and external review processes for group health plans and

The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has announced that the filing due date for the 2009 and 2010 Form 8955 SSA, Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants with Deferred Vested Benefits, will be extended in guidance to be released shortly. Revised

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2011, in recognition of recent increases in gasoline prices. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate the

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule to update and revise two aspects of the agency's recordkeeping and reporting requirements for work related injuries and illnesses. Public comments on the proposed changes should be submitted

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that, after September 22, 2011, no new applications or requests for extensions of waivers from the Affordable Care Act's annual limit restrictions will be considered. The announcement includes guidance to

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a three month phase in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the Agency's new directive (STD 03 11 002) to provide residential

Cafeteria plans that have not yet been amended to reflect the new over the counter drug requirements in relation to certain tax favored arrangements as provided under the Affordable Care Act have until June 30, 2011 to adopt the changes.

Effective July 1, 2011, Delaware's Medical Marijuana Act prohibits employers from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment, or otherwise penalizing a person, if the discrimination is based upon either The person's status

A successful recruiting program is essential to attracting and selecting qualified candidates to join your company's workforce and positioning your business for growth. The key to successful recruiting of new employees is the development of a systematic process for developing

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law which requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at time and one half the

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a new online tool called the OSHA Recordkeeping Advisor to help employers understand their responsibilities to report and record work related injuries and illnesses under the OSHA

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched I 9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to Form I 9, Employment Eligibility Verification. This free, easy to use website builds on recent employment related enhancements by providing employers and

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a proposed rule to extend its existing recordkeeping requirements under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to entities covered

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has proposed to extend and align the applicability dates for its retirement plan fee disclosure rules.   Fiduciary Level Fee Disclosure  EBSA previously published an interim final 408(b)(2) regulation on

With summer just around the corner, many employers are preparing to hire seasonal interns. If your company sponsors an internship program, you may be wondering if you are obligated to pay these individuals for work performed for your business during

Summary of Changes to Health Care Reform—First Anniversary Edition   March 2011 marked the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law and several requirements have changed since it was first enacted. The following summary provides