GLP-1 medications, originally developed for diabetes and now widely used for weight management, are rapidly becoming a major cost concern for employer health plans. Annual costs per user often exceed $10,000, and demand is rising, especially with new forms like
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GLP-1s and Employer Health Plans: Cost Pressure, Coverage Strategies, and Managing Legal Risk
GLP-1 medications have quickly become a significant cost driver in employer-sponsored health plans, with annual per-participant costs frequently exceeding $10,000 and utilization rates continuing to rise. The GLP-1 landscape continues to change (for example, in December 2025, the U.S. Food
EEOC Rescinds Harassment Guidance on Gender Identity: What Employers Need to Know
Employers are facing renewed uncertainty about workplace protections for gender identity after federal agency guidance was recently withdrawn. On January 22, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted 2-1 to rescind its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the
The No Surprises Act: Key Developments to Watch in 2026
As the No Surprises Act (NSA) enters 2026, federal agencies are expected to focus on three key issues: finalizing delayed rulemaking, issuing guidance to address operational challenges in the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, and managing enforcement discretion amid ongoing
The American Franchise Act: Re-Defining Joint Employer Liability
Understanding joint employer liability is critical for companies in the franchise sector, as it directly impacts risk management and compliance. If the American Franchise Act (AFA) were enacted, it would provide significant guidance to franchisors and franchisees regarding the circumstances
False Claims Act Enforcement Trends: FY 2025 Sees Record High Resolutions
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its annual False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement statistics on January 16, 2026. The DOJ announced a record level of recoveries from FCA resolutions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (ending Sept. 30, 2025), which exceeded
California’s Ban on “Stay-or-Pay” Provisions: What Employers Should Know Now That AB 692 Is in Effect
With the start of the new year, California Assembly Bill 692 (AB 692) is now in effect, introducing sweeping new restrictions on employment agreements that include so-called “stay-or-pay” provisions — terms requiring employees to repay money or incur financial consequences
New Mechanisms for Employers to Expand Employee Access to Fertility Benefits
Late last year, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (collectively, the Departments) provided long-awaited guidance clarifying two new ways — in addition to the already-existing mechanisms — for employers to expand fertility benefit offerings. The Departments
New U.S. DOL Opinion Letters Poised to Reshape Employers’ FLSA and FMLA Practices
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) just rang in 2026 with six new opinion letters addressing various employer practices under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The letters cover a broad
The Zafirov Appellate Argument — Panel Steers Parties to Address Whistleblower Control
The much-anticipated appellate showdown regarding the constitutionality of the whistleblower (or qui tam) provision of the federal False Claims Act (FCA) took place before a three-judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Elizabeth L. Branch, Judge Robert