Contribution deposit safe harbor, QDIA requirements, IRS compliance issues, HEART Act. Note: The IRS has provided information on the top ten 401(k) plan compliance issues, and Congress has enacted provisions to assist employees called to active duty.
Gift certificates. Note: Gift certificates given to employees are taxable.
Legal issues and suggestions for programs. Note: A checklist to help employers comply with HIPAA regulations is available from the U.S. Department of Labor. Ideas for wellness initiatives are available.
Mileage reimbursement rate. Note: IRS has increased the mileage reimbursement rate for the second half of 2008 by 8 cents to 58.5 cents per mile.
Penalties. Note: Penalties for child labor violations have increased.
Retaliation. Note: Under a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act applies to claims of retaliation.
Contracts of $5 million or more: code of conduct and ethics required. Note: New requirements for contractors with contracts of $5 million or more.
Grief management. Note: Resources for information on grief management are available.
Genetic information. Note: A new federal law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information.
Global Positioning Systems Note: Find out how employers are using Global Positioning Systems to monitor employees.
Arbitration agreements. Note: The Supreme Court says the FAA preempts state laws that would give jurisdiction to a court or administrative agency rather than an arbitrator.
Fiduciary breach and claim review standards. Note: The Supreme Court has ruled that individual defined benefit participants can sue plan fiduciaries for losses to their accounts and has ruled that insurance companies that act as plan administrators have a conflict of interest that may reduce the deference given to the company's claim denials.
Salary level test. Note: There is a new DOL opinion letter on prorating salaries of exempt part-timers.
Prohibited practices. Note: The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal-sector employees may bring retaliation claims under the ADEA.
Qualified reservist distributions. Note: The HEART Act gives reservists on active duty access to their medical FSA account balances.
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Note: The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act bars health plans from discriminating based on genetic information.
Mileage reimbursement rate for the remainder of 2008. Note: The mileage reimbursement rate for the remainder of 2008 is 58.5 cents per mile.
Benefits while on leave. Note: The effects of the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (HEART Act) are explained.
Minimum wage rate. Note: The federal minimum wage rate increase takes effect on July 24, 2008.
Specimen validity. Note: New DOT regulations make it mandatory for laboratories to test all DOT specimens for specimen validity.
FMLA poster Note: Employers must post the Military Family Leave poster.
DHS reproposes no-match regulations; federal contractors are required to use E-Verify. Note: DHS has reproposed its no-match letter safe-harbor regulations without any changes, and federal contractors are required to use the E-Verify system.
Types of tests. Note: A new federal law prohibits employers from discrimination on the basis of an individual's genetic information.
Genetic information. Note: A new federal law makes it unlawful for employers to request genetic information.
Genetic information. Note: President Bush has signed the new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) into law.
Retaliation. Note: A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allows employees to bring retaliation claims under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act.
Executive Order 11246/OFCCP Rules Note: The OFCCP has issued a directive permitting contractors to retain records electronically.
Questions to avoid. Note: A new federal law prohibits employers from requesting or requiring applicants to provide information about genetic testing.
Performance-based compensation.
Cell Phone Use, Safety, and Liability Note: Find out what jurisdictions prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while driving.
Retaliation, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Note: Learn about recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings favoring employees in retaliation cases; employers may not discharge employees based on their genetic information.
State law comparison, stalking and domestic violence. Note: New information is provided on state laws regarding workplace violence and protecting victims of domestic violence and stalking.
Penalties.
State laws. Note: Find out more about recent court decisions on same-sex marriage.