United States: Excepted Benefits: Final Regulations Provide Guidance On Dental, Vision And Employee Assistance Plans

The Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) have recently published final regulations related to when limited scope dental and vision benefits and employee assistance programs (“EAPs”) qualify as “excepted benefits” not subject to certain requirements that otherwise apply to group health plans. These group health plan requirements were primarily established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) […]

By | January 15th, 2015 ||

United States: California Supreme Court Denies Review Of Cell Phone Reimbursement Case

In August, a California appellate court held in Cochran v. Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. that employers must reimburse employees for mandatory use of personal cell phones for business purposes, even if employees have unlimited plans and otherwise incur no additional out-of-pocket expenses for such use. The California Supreme Court refused to grant review of the decision, such that it will stand as established case law. See our September edition for a discussion of this […]

By | January 14th, 2015 ||

United States: California Paid Sick Leave Law Required Notice January 1; Guidance For Employers With Unlimited Or Honor, No-Accrual Time Off Policies

Starting January 1, 2015, employers must post this poster in the workplace informing employees of their rights under California’s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014, which provides paid sick leave to employees. In addition, employers must provide non-exempt, hourly employees with an individualized Notice to Employee at the time of hire that includes information on the Act. Employers need to check off one of the four ways listed in the Notice in which […]

By | January 14th, 2015 ||