Especially upon plan termination, locating missing participants can be a major headache for plan sponsors, who have a fiduciary obligation to locate participants and distribute benefits under the terminating plan. In one development that may help in this regard, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) issued final regulations that expand, revise and simplify its Missing …
Employers Beware: Misclassification Cases are Costly and Common
Many employers erroneously classify workers who should be employees as independent contractors, due to the significant tax savings. However, misclassification cases present major risks. The independent contractor status for a worker is not favored by the IRS, the Department of Labor (DOL), the states, and many agencies within the states including those enforcing workers’ compensation …
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Termination of Temporary Protected Status: The End of the Road?
Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) has been available for citizens of El Salvador who have been physically present and residing in the United States since February 13, 2001. On January 8, 2018, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the termination of TPS for Salvadorians effective September 9, 2019. As identified below, there …
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United States Supreme Court Declines Review of Seventh Circuit ADA Leave Decision
This month the United States Supreme Court declined to review the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc. The Plaintiff asked the Supreme Court to consider whether there is a per se rule that a finite leave of absence of more than one month (after the employee had exhausted his …
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The Hidden (In Plain Sight) Costs of Participating in Multiemployer Fringe Benefit Plans
Employers that participate in multiemployer fringe benefit plans (i.e., a plan providing benefits for union employees into which more than one employer contributes) typically understand the basic costs of doing so.
The GDPR Covers Employee/HR Data and It’s Tricky, Tricky (Tricky) Tricky: What HR Needs to Know
The European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect on May 25, 2018, so in less than 60 days. While many companies have been working to ensure compliance with respect to their customer and vendor data, one extremely tricky area that must not be overlooked is the GDPR’s application to employee/HR information. …
Final ERISA Claims Procedures for Plans Providing Disability Benefits Effective April 1, 2018
March and April will be critical months for employers who sponsor ERISA-governed employee benefit plans that provide benefits subject to the disability claim procedures. Any claims filed after April 1, 2018 will be subject to a new final rule issued by the Department of Labor (“DOL”) in December of 2016. Plans subject to these rules …
Is Your Organization Taking the Correct Steps to Prevent and Defend Against Harassment Claims? Recent EEOC Guidance Suggests Best Practices
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, most employers have become more acutely aware of the risks involved in failing to effectively prevent and respond to claims of workplace harassment. This renewed awareness should cause all employers, large and small, to evaluate their policies, processes and practices in place to prevent harassment and to respond …
Michigan Court of Appeals Offers Guidance to Employers in Documenting Reasons for Hiring, Promotions
On February 1, 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion which offers employers guidance regarding ways to document the reasoning behind hiring, promotion, and termination decisions to overcome allegations of discriminatory intent. In O’Dell v. State of Michigan, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued Feb. 1, 2018 (Docket No. …
Preparing for the H-1B Lottery – What to Expect for FY2019
April 2, 2018 marks the first day of a five-day window to file cap-subject H-1Bs with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2019), which begins on October 1, 2018. With only a couple of weeks remaining before April 2, we are now fully immersed in the “March Madness” of …
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