COVID-19
October 21, 2021
Workers’ Comp and the Supply Chain Crisis
There has been a tremendous focus in recent weeks on the fragilities of our nation’s supply chain. Some everyday products are in frighteningly short supply, hundreds of container ships are waiting weeks to be unloaded, and ominous warnings are being issued that Christmas may not be coming this year. It should be noted that those...
October 14, 2021
Best Practices to Facilitate a Successful Benefits Rollout
Keeping employees motivated and productive in the current environment is a difficult task on its own, but when you factor in employees who are struggling financially, it’s a whole other ball game. As an employer, you want to help provide solutions by offering desirable benefits like pet insurance, flexible time off, early wage access and...
October 12, 2021
Clarifying Guidance on COBRA Deadline Extension Relief
IRS Notice 2021-58 clarifies the application of certain COBRA deadline extensions for electing COBRA coverage and paying COBRA premiums under prior relief that was issued as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak (“Emergency Relief”). Under the Emergency Relief, up to one year must be disregarded in determining the due dates for individuals to elect COBRA...
October 7, 2021
FAQs Address COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage and Premium Discounts
On Oct. 4, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued FAQs addressing rules regarding premium incentives for COVID-19 vaccinations and rapid coverage of preventive services for COVID-19. Premium Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccinations The FAQs clarify that a group health plan (or health insurance issuer offering coverage...
October 4, 2021
Cal/OSHA to Expand Enforcement Authority
On Sept. 27, 2021, California adopted Senate Bill 606 (SB 606) to expand the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (Cal/OSHA) enforcement authority. Among other things, SB 606 creates a new egregious violation citation category and an assumption that violations are enterprise wide under certain circumstances. SB 606 also addresses issues with abatement, notice in...
September 30, 2021
Medicare Part D Notices Due Before Oct. 15, 2021
Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable to individuals eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2021—the start date...
September 22, 2021
Catastrophes and COVID-19 Fallout Proving Especially Challenging for Real Estate Companies
Among the many industries suffering from the dual impact of COVID-19 and severe weather events, few would want to trade places with the real estate sector. Between tenants having difficulty paying rent or trying to break leases, a myriad of rules around COVID-19 safety, volatile construction material and labor costs, and record-breaking hurricane and wildfire...
September 20, 2021
What President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Means for Employers
President Joe Biden’s administration is continuing its efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the deadly coronavirus Delta variant. Recently, the White House ordered all federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, the government is imposing a similar requirement on private employers. The move is estimated to affect over...
September 15, 2021
OSHA Developing Private Sector Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19
On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing an emergency temporary standard (ETS). The new ETS will require private-sector employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 every week before coming to work. This announcement follows...
Risk Management Has Never Been So High Up the Corporate Agenda
The global COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how critical risk management is for virtually all organizations, especially at this delicate stage of recovery amid the threat of the virus’ resurgence caused by the Delta variant. According to Claire Combes, chairperson of UK-based risk management association Airmic, the pandemic has shown the importance of understanding and managing...