Most businesses are affected during a recession, from financial implications to employee retention. As uncertainty about the future increases, make sure your business has a plan in place in order to see the light at the end...more
The long-awaited SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (“SECURE 2.0”), containing sweeping changes to workplace retirement plans, was signed into law on December 29, 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. SECURE 2.0...more
On August 25, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt the “pay-versus-performance” rule, requiring publicly traded companies (except foreign private issuers, registered investment companies, and...more
Join us on Wednesday, September 21 at noon for a live-stream of our Eighth Annual Labor & Employment Fall Seminar as we discuss hiring, onboarding and retention. Our attorneys will discuss everything from the initial...more
7/26/2022
/ Background Checks ,
Best Practices ,
Bonuses ,
Compensation ,
Diversity ,
Drug Testing ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retention ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Pay ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Interviews ,
Job Applicants ,
Job Offers ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Wage and Hour ,
Webinars
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last month to overturn Roe v. Wade presents new challenges for employee benefit plans. By overturning the case establishing a constitutional right to abortion, the Court's decision in Dobbs...more
President Biden announced on January 10th that the Biden-Harris Administration is requiring insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of over-the-counter (OTC), at-home COVID-19 tests. Beginning January 15,...more
The recent announcement that Delta Airlines will begin imposing a $200 per month health insurance surcharge on unvaccinated employees has prompted many employers to consider whether a similar surcharge may be an alternative...more
The Illinois General Assembly is considering a bill (H.B. 117) that would make several amendments to the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act, including extending the requirement to offer employees a retirement savings...more
Almost one year after the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), and with the second extension of pandemic unemployment assistance about to expire for millions of workers on March...more
3/12/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employee Retention ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Flexible Spending Accounts ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Credits ,
Transportation Industry ,
Unemployment Benefits
The Biden administration is signaling significant policy shifts. Business owners and C-Suite executives are encouraged to join us for a series of complimentary webcasts discussing these likely changes and how they will impact...more
3/2/2021
/ 401k ,
403(b) Plans ,
457(b) Plans ,
Biden Administration ,
C-Suite Executives ,
Capital Gains Tax ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Deferred Compensation ,
Estate Tax ,
Executive Compensation ,
Federal Taxes ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Plan Participants ,
Social Security Taxes ,
Tax Planning ,
Tax Policy ,
Tax Rates ,
Webinars
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published final regulations implementing changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 162(m)) expanding the scope...more
3/2/2021
/ CEOs ,
CFOs ,
Compensation Agreements ,
Grandfathering Rules ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
IRS ,
SAR ,
Section 162(m) ,
Stock Options ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Tax Deductions ,
Wage Deductions
A $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress late last night is expected to be signed into law by President Trump later today. In addition to an assortment of aid for individuals and businesses, the bill extends...more
On August 28, the IRS issued Notice 2020-65 providing brief guidance on the payroll tax deferral announced in a Presidential Memorandum issued on August 8th. The Memorandum directed the Treasury Department to issue guidance...more
On April 29, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury Department issued guidance extending certain timeframes related to employee benefit plans due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The agencies acknowledge that plan...more
The Small Business Administration stopped accepting applications for loans under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) late last week after quickly reaching the program’s $349 billion limit. Congress is debating appropriating...more
Recent legislation providing COVID-19 relief to individuals and businesses includes provisions allowing more flexibility under retirement plans for individuals impacted by COVID-19. The CARES Act permits special hardship...more
With the ink barely dry on the president’s signature, employers are now turning to whether they need to and how to comply with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Act”) (HR 6201). Since the law was signed by...more
As we previously reported, on March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more
Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force...more
3/17/2020
/ Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
State Labor Laws ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
On March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the legislation...more
Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force....more
3/16/2020
/ Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
State Labor Laws ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
Congress recently passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (the SECURE Act), the largest package of retirement plan reforms in more than ten years. This sweeping federal legislation aimed...more
On September 23, 2019 the IRS issued final regulations updating the rules governing hardship distributions from 401(k) and 403(b) plans. They are generally similar to the proposed regulations issued late last year and...more
Illinois employers that have 25 or more employees and have been in business at least two years will be required to participate in the state-run retirement savings program or offer another qualifying retirement plan later this...more
On Friday, December 14th, a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling in Texas, et al., v. United States of America declaring the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional, based on...more