PCORI Fees Due July 31, 2026 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors to pay Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). The fees are reported and paid annually using IRS Form 720, the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. Form 720 and full payment of the PCORI fees [...]
Different Types of Raises and How to Communicate Them With Employees Pay increases aren’t one-size-fits-all. Employers use several types depending on their goals, budget and workforce needs, and these differences matter more than many organizations realize. A merit increase signals something very different to an employee than a standardized across-the-board adjustment, even if the [...]
Federal Agencies Issue Proposed Rules on Offering Fertility Benefits On May 10, 2026, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (the Departments) jointly issued proposed rules that would create a new category of limited excepted benefits that employers can use to offer fertility benefits. The proposed rules build on [...]
5 Ways to Use Your HSA Funds A health savings account (HSA) can be a versatile resource. Many people focus on tax-advantaged savings for future medical bills, but HSAs can do much more than that. From everyday care items to wellness essentials you might not expect, these accounts can help cover a wide range [...]
Trump Account Proposed Rules: What You Should Know On March 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS released proposed rules for a new one‑time $1,000 pilot program connected to a savings account called a Trump Account. These accounts were created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and are [...]
DOL Publishes Informational Videos on the FMLA In connection with the 33rd anniversary of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has posted a new series of short videos about the statute on its website. The FMLA Passed in 1993, the FMLA requires covered employers to provide [...]
EEOC Releases Guidance on National Origin Discrimination and Anti-American Bias On Nov. 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released new materials on national origin discrimination, including a technical assistance document, Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against the Law, and updates to its national origin webpage. The new materials reflect the EEOC’s [...]
Significant Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa Program On Sept. 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rule amending its regulations governing the process by which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B registrations. The proposed rule would implement a weighted selection process that would generally favor [...]
EEOC Increases Penalty for Violations of Notice-posting Requirements On Sept. 30, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published a final rule increasing the maximum civil monetary penalty for violations of federal requirements for employers to post notices about fair employment laws in their employees’ workplaces. The EEOC is required to adjust these [...]
Key Year-end Disclosure Deadlines for Group Health Plans Key Year-end Disclosure Deadlines for Group Health Plans As the end of the calendar year approaches, employers that sponsor group health plans must ensure timely compliance with several federal reporting and disclosure requirements. These obligations, mandated under various federal laws, including the Employee Retirement Income Security [...]
