Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to the ACA’s Individual Mandate
On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate in a 7-2 ruling.
This lawsuit was filed in 2018 by 18 states as a result of the 2017 tax reform law that eliminates the individual mandate penalty. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ACA on the basis that the individual mandate is a valid tax. With the penalty’s elimination, the appeals court in this case determined that the individual mandate is no longer valid under the U.S. Constitution.
Tax Overhaul
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and
The Impact of Biden’s Competition Executive Order on the Health Care Industry
The American economy is finally recovering after more than a year of stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden’s administration wants to continue this momentum and further stimulate the economy. To help in that effort, President Biden recently signed an executive order aimed at increasing competition among businesses.
According to the White House, the order was designed to “promote competition in the American economy, which will lower prices for families, increase wages for workers, and promote innovation and even faster economic growth.”
U.S. Attorney General Memo: Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty
On October 6, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions released two memos for all component heads and U.S. attorneys, per President Trump’s instruction in Executive...
White Collar Overtime Ruling
On September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule regarding overtime pay. The ruling updates the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, and also allows employers to count a portion of certain bonuses/commissions toward meeting the salary level.
Five Steps to Successful Employee Communication
Effective managers must be strong communicators to inspire and lead their teams. The video below offers five strategies and suggestions to keep your managers' communication efforts on point.
5th Circuit Court of Appeals Extends Stay of OSHA ETS
On Nov. 12, 2021, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the Court) extended the preliminary stay it ordered for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) on Nov. 6, 2021. The judicial stay will remain in effect until the ETS’ legality is ultimately decided in the
judicial system.
How to Conduct 1-on-1 Benefits Meetings
Employee benefits programs are a big part of attracting and retaining top talent. You’ve likely worked hard to develop a competitive benefits package, but you may be undermining your hard work by not communicating effectively. Learn some tips for holding 1-on-1 benefits meetings in the video below.
April 2022 EEOC Issues FAQs on COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination
On March 14, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a new set of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) related to the...