On Jan. 28, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new special enrollment period (SEP) due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through Exchanges using the federal www.HealthCare.gov platform. States using their own Exchange platforms are strongly encouraged to make a similar SEP available in their states. Overview of the COVID-19 SEP [...]
On Sept. 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule to clarify how employers should classify their workers as either employees or independent contractors. Accurate worker classification enables employers to determine which obligations, protections, rights and benefits apply to their employees under the law. Economic Realities Test Currently, there is no [...]
On Feb. 26, 2021, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury issued FAQ guidance to clarify health coverage requirements related to COVID-19. Coverage of COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Health plans and issuers must cover COVID-19 diagnostic items and services without cost-sharing. The FAQs explain that plans and issuers: May not use [...]
On Jan. 19, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) for 2022 that finalized some of the standards included in the proposed notice issued at the end of 2020. The NBPP describes benefit and payment parameters under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that apply [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has solidified remote work as a new operational standard. Employers should expect this trend to only grow in the future. In fact, many major companies, such as Twitter and Microsoft, have indicated that remote work will be an indefinite option for their employees. While this is exciting in many ways, remote work [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for HR departments in 2020. Suddenly, employees were looking to HR teams for guidance in areas not typically considered their responsibility. This was a turning point for many workplaces—now, HR is expected to understand public health challenges swiftly and manage them efficiently. This article outlines four ways HR [...]
Power outages are an unfortunate reality and often strike fast and unexpectedly, leaving employees looking for answers. Often a result of extreme winter or other severe weather, a power outage can leave a workplace without the heat or lights on, and the impact can extend to employees’ homes—and their personal safety. Employee relations are critical [...]
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, remote work was a fringe benefit at many organizations. Now, nearly 40% of employees have transitioned to remote working arrangements, according to a survey from Boston Consulting Group. This signals the new workplace reality: Remote work is here to stay. Unfortunately, that’s not a welcomed change for many people. Namely, [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc in the United States for over a year at this point. Now, vaccines are finally here. There is a lot of information on the internet regarding the vaccines, some of which is misleading. It’s important for employers to learn the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines so they can [...]
Attracting and retaining talent is often a top priority for HR departments. Given the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the job market, one might imagine this task is easier than ever. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. While there may be more candidates than usual, attracting quality talent and retaining top performers still [...]
