Washington Governor Jay Inslee, on March 30, 2022, signed into law amendments to the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunity Act (EPOA Amendments), which soon will require most Washington employers to include pay ranges and benefits information in their job postings.
Latest from Employee Benefits
Contractual Considerations for Self-Funded Group Health Plan Sponsors in 2022
In our January 2022 update, we discussed new federal requirements that group health plans should pay close attention to in 2022. The sponsor of a self-funded plan will need to work closely with its legal counsel, benefits consultant, and
Washington Legislature Amends WA Cares Fund, Delays Premium Collection until July 2023
2022 Cybersecurity Issues and Recommendations for ERISA Plan Fiduciaries
New cybersecurity developments and observations, including those relating to U.S. Department of Labor review of cybersecurity issues, warrant prompt consideration by plan fiduciaries, including those plans covered by HIPAA. The following update includes recommendations to help ERISA retirement and health
Ringing in the New Year: Key Developments for Health Plan Sponsors
There are many new and expanding legal requirements for group health plans and issuers of group health plan coverage to pay attention to this year. Many of these requirements were enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021,
New FAQs Require Group Health Plans and Issuers to Cover OTC COVID-19 Tests
This week, the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury issued a new set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) confirming that group health plans and issuers must provide 100% coverage of over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests beginning
Washington Governor Attempts to Clarify WA Cares Fund Premium Collection
Today, Washington Governor Jay Inslee released a statement clarifying his earlier statement about delaying the assessment of WA Cares Fund premiums. (Our earlier blog entry is here.) In today’s clarification, the Governor appears to be saying that employers still
Washington State Pauses Collection of WA Cares Fund Premium Assessments, Employers Should Too
See our December 23, 2021 update to this alert here: Washington Governor Attempts to Clarify WA Cares Fund Premium Collection | Employee Benefits (perkinscoiebenefitsblog.com)
On December 17, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, and House Speaker Laurie
2022 IRS Annual Employee Benefit Plan Limit Updates
The IRS has issued Notice 2021-61 and Revenue Procedure 2021-45 setting forth its annual employee benefit plan limitations for 2022. Key changes, placed in bold in the chart below, include the following:
- Code Section 402(g) limitation on elective deferrals increased
DOL Proposes Expanded Use of ESG Factors in ERISA Plan Investment Decisions and Proxy Voting
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed regulation on October 14, 2021, that would clarify how fiduciaries of private sector employee benefit plans should apply ERISA’s fiduciary duties of prudence and loyalty when making investment decisions and exercising