When the U.S. Supreme Court issued its recent decision striking down affirmative action in colleges and universities, workplace researchers forecast the quick demise of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) programs. Their fears were realistic; a 2013 Harvard University study shows that racial diversity in the workplace significantly declined after several states outlawed affirmative action in college Read More
The Self-Funded Plan’s Guide To Gender-Affirming Coverage
By Tim Kennedy and Anne Tyler Hall (October 31, 2023) In recent years, the U.S. has seen an increase in the number of individuals identifying as transgender.[1] With this development, there also has been increased attention on transgender rights and protections, as well as an increase in the demand for employer-sponsored group health plans, or GHPs, to cover gender-affirmation benefits. Whether or how a GHP Read More
Ninth Circuit Decision in AT&T Case May Expose Retirement Plan Fiduciaries to New Attacks
The U.S. Court of Appeals recently revived a lawsuit against AT&T Services Inc. and its retirement plan fiduciaries after a district court had granted summary judgment in favor of the telecommunications giant. The published decision, binding in the Ninth Circuit, focused on indirect fees received by service plan providers. This issue potentially subjects retirement plan fiduciaries to legal attacks they have not Read More
Secure an Employee Plan’s Future by Proactively Self-Correcting
By Grant Shuman and Anne Tyler Hall, Hall Benefits Law SECURE 2.0 provides retirement plan sponsors an avenue to control the narrative in resolving any compliance issues under EPCRS, say Grant Shuman and Anne Tyler Hall of Hall Benefits Law. Retirement plan sponsors can take advantage of new and expanded self-correction remedies under the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System even before the IRS releases Read More
Common Mistakes in 457 Plans of Tax-Exempt Organizations
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 457 details tax consequences for deferred compensation retirement plans for tax-exempt organizations (EOs) and state and local government entities (S&L plans). Plans that meet certain eligibility requirements under Section 457(b) have deferred tax benefits, and those that fail to meet these requirements are subject to tax consequences under Section 457(f). Here are some common Read More
IRS Warns Plan Sponsors of ESOP Compliance Risks
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued IR-2023-144 (“IRS Notice”) on August 29, 2023, which concerns Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). These plans allow employees to accrue ownership of company stock over time. The IRS Notice warns employers who sponsor ESOPs to be wary of the many compliance rules that these plans involve. In particular, the IRS expresses concern in its Notice that some ESOP transactions Read More
The Meaning of ‘Woke’
In the three years since George Floyd’s death, systemic oppression, police brutality, racism, and workplace discrimination have come to the forefront of our collective consciousness. This era of heightened awareness has given rise to social movements, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) programs in the workplace, and the concept of “wokeness” – or awareness of systemic issues related to race, gender, and Read More
Proposed Regulations for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Issued
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published proposed rules to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) on August 11, 2023. The EEOC will accept public comments on the rules through October 10, 2023, and it is specifically seeking comments on other possible accommodations and the costs of accommodations. The PWFA, which went into effect on June 27, 2023, expands protections for Read More
10th Circuit’s PBM Ruling Could Erode Similar State Laws
A recent Tenth Circuit decision invalidating portions of an Oklahoma law regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) based on preemption could negatively affect similar laws in other states. The appellate court found that the Employee Retirement Income Security Administration (ERISA) and Medicare Part D preempted the challenged provisions of the PBM law. In its decision, the Tenth Circuit also explicitly acknowledged Read More
NLRB Shifts Balance Toward Employee Rights When Assessing Lawfulness of Employer Rules
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently announced a decision in Stericycle Inc., in which it adopted a new standard for evaluating the legality of employer policies under Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In its ruling, the NLRB overruled its previous decisions in Boeing Co. (2017) and LA Specialty Produce Co. (2019), in which it had articulated a different standard. The NLRB Read More
