In recent guidance, the IRS noted the “unprecedented public health emergency posed by COVID-19” (the disease that results from the 2019 Novel Coronavirus), and the need to remove potential administrative and financial barriers to COVID-19 testing and treatment under the health savings account (HSA) rules. Issued on March 11, 2020, IRS Notice 2020-15 responds to […]
Earlier this afternoon, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers directed Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee, Andrea Palm, to order a ban on mass gathering of 50 or more people. Pursuant to the Order Prohibiting Mass Gatherings of 50 People or More, a “mass gathering” is “any planned or spontaneous, public or private event or convening that […]
Many companies are currently wondering what to do if they know an employee or their family member is sick with coronavirus or the flu or if someone seems to be sick with the coronavirus or the flu. The CDC has issued Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 […]
The recent world-wide coronavirus outbreak has, thus far, had a fairly limited impact in the U.S. However, health officials believe that it’s not a matter of “if” the U.S. has an outbreak of the virus, but “when.” The CDC has stated that the “[d]isruption to everyday life may be severe,” which could include schools being […]
Companies that have entered into arrangements (1) to pay deferred compensation to key employees (including owners), or (2) to provide employee benefits specifically for apprentices or trainees should immediately determine whether a “top-hat filing” is required, and, if so, whether it has been properly filed with the Department of Labor. Two very recent legal developments—increased […]
In 2019, several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board have either issued new regulations, new guidelines, or employer-friendly decisions that every employer should be aware of as we begin our journey into this 2020 election year. Most of the changes coming at the […]
The holiday celebration season is in full swing and everyone is ready to celebrate! And while that hopefully means reflecting on successes of the past year and bonding with coworkers, employers need to be aware of their exposure to potential liability arising from holiday celebrations and what they need to do to reduce or avoid […]
A federal appellate court has ruled, in MBI Energy Services v. Hoch, decided in July 2019, that a single document may serve as both the summary plan description (SPD) and the formal plan document for an ERISA welfare benefit plan. In this case, the plan sponsor of a self-insured group health plan paid benefits on behalf […]
If you call your employment lawyer and tell her that you want to terminate an employee for performance issues, one of the first questions will be “What documentation do you have?” Recently, the Seventh Circuit confirmed just how crucial documentation can be when defending an employment lawsuit. In Rozumalski v. W.F. Baird and Associates, decided August […]
The IRS recently issued guidance expanding the types of preventive care services that can be provided by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), before the deductible is met, without eliminating a covered individual’s eligibility to participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA). The new guidance was published on July 17, 2019 and took legal effect on […]
