Ver la versión en español aquí The Dave & Buster’s restaurant chain recently settled a class action lawsuit claiming it violated ERISA’s “discrimination” rules by reducing hours of various employees to cause them to lose eligibility for the company’s group health plan. After over three years of litigation in the Southern District of New York … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí $1.5 Trillion-that is with a T. That is the amount of student debt currently owed by more than 40 million Americans, about 70% of whom are college graduates. One in ten borrowers are at least 90 days delinquent on their loans. No wonder economists and others believe it may … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí It is prime time of the year for hiring “interns.” They usually are high school, college or even graduate students looking for work experience. Certain interns may be unpaid (the analysis of whether interns must be paid is an important issue but beyond the scope of this blog post). … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Our first Annual Tampa Labor & Employment Law Seminar was a success, with more than 70 attendees! We anticipate growing the seminar in the coming years and will use your feedback to determine future topics and content. Thank you to all who attended. Congratulations to our blog contest winner! … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Last week, the CEO of Starbucks, Kevin Johnson, announced the ‘Partner and Family Sick Time’ benefits for all of Starbucks’ U.S. employees. Starbucks is giving employees a number of additional perks, including increased wages, stock grants, six-week paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents and five days of paid … Continue Reading
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
Ver la versión en español aquí This is an exciting time for the Firm, our Labor & Employment Law Department and our clients. We are pleased to welcome two new members to our group and to expand our footprint in Tampa. Janet Goldberg McEnery and Andrew W. McLaughlin each brings a wealth of knowledge and … Continue Reading
techVer la versión en español aquí In January, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) brought suit in a San Francisco administrative court against Google, Inc. to require Google, as a federal contractor, to allow the government to inspect Google’s pay records. While the DOL was demanding various documents regarding employees’ compensation history for compliance purposes, it was clear the underlying reason was … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Employers are always looking for ways to improve work-life balance for their employees. The objective, of course, is to reduce employee burnout and turnover, while increasing employee satisfaction, productivity and creativity. Some companies have gone the untraditional route, such as Daimler’s “Mail on Holiday program” which gives employees the … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí SunTrust Banks learned an expensive lesson about COBRA compliance recently. It was sued for failure to send proper COBRA election notices after employees terminated employment. SunTrust’s agent for COBRA notice purposes, Xerox HR Solutions, actually sent timely COBRA notices to the former employees. But two former employees/plaintiffs claimed that … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí A new law passed by Congress reinstates the ability of eligible small employers to reimburse employee paid premiums to purchase individual health insurance policies. The law reverses the application of huge penalties that would have applied to such reimbursement actions under the IRS’ interpretation of the Affordable Care Act. … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Applicable large employers – those with 50+ full-time employees (ALEs) – under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) must satisfy the law’s “employer mandate,” meaning that they may be assessed penalties for: Failing to offer minimum essential coverage to full-time employees and their dependents Offering eligible employer-sponsored coverage that is … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí The final chapter of an unusual FICA tax saga recently was ordered in the form of a settlement between Henkel Corporation and a group of its retirees. Although framed as a case involving retiree benefits, the case’s application is not that narrow. Henkel sponsored a nonqualified deferred compensation (“NQDC”) … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí As we become increasingly more mobile, telecommuting programs are among the fastest growing benefit for employees. While the term “work from home” may trigger visions of a 24-year-old with a laptop at a Starbucks, the typical telecommuter is actually a 49-year old college graduate. Having an endless supply of … Continue Reading
Employees are taking back Thanksgiving!!! What impact will that have on your business if the trend continues? Is the trend driven by a return to more traditional values surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday or is it just plain good business sense? Employers are asking themselves these questions ever since Recreational Equipment, Inc., otherwise known as “REI,” … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí You just finished the torture of the RFP process for a new vendor for your benefit plan (doesn’t matter what kind of plan – 401(k), group health plan, section 125 plan, stock purchase, etc.). You carefully compiled all the information from the 100-page responses, checked the references, asked pointed … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Did you watch the Democratic presidential debate on October 13, 2015? If so, you heard the candidates make many promises, among them paid family leave. True, we already have the FMLA, but it only requires unpaid leave, it only applies to employers with 50 or more employees, and it … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí You’ve always treated your employees fairly, even when the relationship doesn’t work out and you have to let the employee go or when you’ve had to terminate employees due to downsizing. Often, you agree to continue the employee’s benefits for a few months during a severance period. You know … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Wow, how time flies! We are quickly approaching our 25th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar this Spring. Mark your calendars now because this year’s seminar is not to be missed! Join us on Friday, May 8th from 8 am-4:00 pm at the InterContinental Miami hotel as we reveal … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Earlier this year, the IRS announced that employers are permitted to allow employees to drop coverage under the employer’s fiscal year group health plan and sign up for marketplace coverage. The employer may do this based on the employee’s “reasonable representation” that he or she (and family members) have … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí As I sit here watching professional wrestling with my son, it hits me. Vincent Kennedy McMahon, the Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, is a genius. First, Mr. McMahon has kept me interested in staged fights (with predetermined outcomes) for the majority of my life. Second, I marvel at how … Continue Reading
The rules on the Affordable Care Act keep pouring out of Washington. Reporting for “pay or play” compliance requires a huge recordkeeping burden on employers. This seminar covers everything you need to know as we head into the first year of “pay or play” compliance and what to expect down the road. Join us in … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Surveys are conducted periodically to compile lists of “best employee benefits.” Those lists have included items such as: free lunch (yes, there is such a thing for some lucky employees); fully-paid insurance premiums; gym membership and fitness classes; flexible schedules, including 4-day workweeks; telecommuting options; transportation subsidies; paid maternity … Continue Reading
Ver la versión en español aquí Last month, I wrote a post about one company’s new “Mail on Holiday” program where emails are automatically deleted during an employee’s vacation. What if, in combination with such a program, an employee could have unlimited vacation time? For most employees, it’s a dream. But if you work for … Continue Reading
