DE Under 3: New WIR Reporter; Nomination for New EEOC General Counsel; ODEP “Disability & the Digital Divide” Report
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - Missing Plan Participants
A recent audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has uncovered significant challenges encountered by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (“EBSA”) in ensuring compliance...more
By Amberlee Lapointe On January 14, 2025, the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (“EBSA”) released updates to its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (“VFCP”), along with a News Release and Fact Sheet...more
And other changes are afoot. Michael Schloss has been named Acting Director and Deputy Director of Policy of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Mr. Schloss previously served as Director of the Office of...more
According to the National Office Directory for OFCCP, Michael Schloss has been named as the new Acting Director and Deputy Director of Policy of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”). Michele Hodge, who...more
The DOL’s EBSA has a number of programs that can restore benefits to plans and participants. Those include: - Civil investigations. - Criminal investigations. - Informal compliant resolutions. - Correction programs. ...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a revised Voluntary Fiduciary Compliance Program (VFCP), a long-awaited update by many in the industry. The most significant change is the introduction of a self-correction component,...more
We are pleased to present our annual End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we present our “To Do” Lists in four separate SW Benefits Updates. This Part 1 covers year-end health and welfare plan issues. Parts 2,...more
by Becky Achten New guidance from the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) affirms that both sides—retirement plans and welfare plans—must take steps to secure participant data from cybercrime. In 2021 the...more
The August Monthly Minute presents Part II of our mental health parity update and provides highlights of the latest report to Congress on NQTL comparative analyses. While service providers lead the way through mental health...more
Most employers know that if a group health plan provides mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits in any of six specified classifications, the plan must provide MH/SUD benefits in all specified...more
In last month’s 401(k) Compliance Check, we discussed the importance of ensuring your 401(k) plan’s designated decision-makers are actually authorized to make plan decisions. In this month’s Compliance Check, we look at...more
On January 12, 2021, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued guidance that is intended to help retirement plan fiduciaries meet their ERISA obligations to locate and distribute benefits to missing or nonresponsive...more
Businesses should carefully assess any independent contractor arrangements in light of an “Administrator’s Interpretation” issued on July 15, 2015 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL). While the...more
Federal agencies have released their spring 2013 regulatory agendas outlining the rules they will likely propose or issue in final form during the next six-month period. While agencies often stray from their stated goals and...more
On January 28, 2013, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announced updates to its Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance (DFVC) Program. ...more