Andrew McLaughlin

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Tales from the (En)crypt

Ver la versión en español aquí. Approaching Halloween, want to hear something Really Scary? Late last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (Philadelphia) in Clemens v. ExecuPharm, Inc. (3rd Circuit Dec. 14,  2021), made clear that employers can be held liable for failing to properly protect their employees’ personal data.  Why is this … Continue Reading

DON’T IGNORE IRS ESRP NOTICES!

Ver la versión en español aquí. Employers continue to receive nastygrams from the IRS threatening “Employer Shared Responsibility Payments” (ESRP). These penalties are assessed against an employer that doesn’t offer compliant, affordable group health coverage to a sufficient percentage of its employees when an employee who isn’t offered compliant, affordable coverage obtains tax-subsidized health coverage … Continue Reading

State tax withholding and other obligations for remote workers. What you don’t know CAN hurt you. (PART 1)

Ver la versión en español aquí A year into the pandemic, many employees have fled their home states to work remotely out-of-state.  These employees have been working “remotely” in states in which their employers have no operations. So what’s the problem? State and local taxes and employment laws, of course. This blog is part one … Continue Reading

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Ver la versión en español aquí This sentiment is perfect for a Kenny Chesney summer concert.  Now it looks like the NLRB and the EEOC can “get along”, and at the same time make it easier for employers to appropriately discipline employees who engage in unacceptable behavior, even if that behavior occurs during otherwise “protected” … Continue Reading

Federal Paid Leave Law Signed by President Trump

On Wednesday evening, March 18th, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), which, among other things, mandates paid time off for certain qualifying events. There are two primary components in terms of paid time off: (1) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“E-FMLA”); and (2) the Emergency … Continue Reading

Strict Enforcement of Non-Negotiable Employment Policies: A Few Horror Stories

Ver la versión en español aquí While having well written policies and procedures for employees is very important, these policies and procedures cannot cover every situation. Employers need to retain some flexibility. Non-negotiable rules can violate employment laws and result in very expensive claims. How expensive?… Continue Reading

Reading Your Employment Policy Documents Probably Won’t Win You $10,000- It Could Be Worth Much More

Ver la versión en español aquí Recently, an insurance company released a story about a secret contest it launched offering $10,000 to the first person who read their insurance policy. The catch: the only way you could find out about the contest was to actually read the policy. 73 policies were sold and sent out … Continue Reading

Don’t Be Snake Bit. Make Sure the COBRA Notices You Use Are Correct.

Ver la versión en español aquí Using a vendor for your COBRA compliance does not mean you are safe from claims. The employer bears ultimate responsibility for complying with COBRA. It appears that Pepsico and Lockheed may be about to learn this lesson.  Both were sued recently in Hillsborough County for failure to send proper … Continue Reading

New Tip Rules Impact All Employers Who Receive Tips

Ver la versión en español aquí The recent budget bill contains big changes for businesses with tipped employees. The new law provides that an employer (including its managers and supervisors) may not keep any portion of its employees’ tips even if the employer does not take a tip credit, which is a maximum of $3.02 … Continue Reading

Tax Reform: Confidential Sexual Harassment Settlements Come With a Price

Ver la versión en español aquí The recently passed tax act promises to have wide ranging impacts on businesses which go beyond the accounting department. There have been attempts by other agencies such as the SEC, EEOC, DOL and NLRB to limit the confidentiality of settlements.  The new tax act follows suit by including a provision … Continue Reading

Retirement Plan Hurricane Relief for Affected Participants

Ver la versión en español aquí As we all know, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria severely impacted parts of Texas, the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico causing billions of dollars of damage. To help victims recover, Congress, the IRS, and the Department of Labor have issued special retirement plan relief for employers and participants … Continue Reading

What’s the Effect of the Sessions’ Memo on Transgender Discrimination?

Ver la versión en español aquí On October 4, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memorandum advising that the U.S. Department of Justice will no longer take the position that Title VII (the law which prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion) prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity per … Continue Reading
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