The initial report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for June took economists by surprise, showing an increase of 147,000 jobs. Economists had predicted a slowdown in hiring due to trade policy uncertainties, high interest rates, immigration, and federal employee layoffs. However, as one economist quickly pointed out, despite the promising numbers, only 74,000 private sector jobs were added in Read More
Recent Supreme Court Decisions Allow More Title VII Claims
Four U.S. Supreme Court decisions over the past four years collectively have created the potential for increased discrimination lawsuits based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2023, the Court eliminated affirmative action in admissions to higher education in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. That same year, the Court’s ruling in Groff v. DeJoy stated that Read More
Equinix Agrees to Settle Stockholder Class Action Suit for $41.5M
Equinix, a data center developer, has agreed to a $41.5 million settlement in a class action lawsuit involving its stockholders. The class alleged that Equinix mischaracterized routine expenses as nonrecurring capital costs to qualify executives for bonuses of $150 million over five years. The Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association Compensation Accrual Fund recently filed a motion for preliminary approval of the Read More
Fifth Circuit Bars Private Right of Action to Enforce IDR Awards Under No Surprises Act
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed two decisions of a lower court barring air ambulance providers from privately enforcing independent dispute resolution (IDR) awards under the No Surprises Act (NSA). The appellate court also reversed the lower court’s decision in one of the cases that had allowed the provider’s claim against the certified IDR entity to go forward. The cases are Guardian Read More
Trump’s Budget Bill Threatens States’ ACA Coverage Progress
Various provisions in President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill threaten to undermine the strides that states have made in recent years to increase health insurance coverage for residents under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Shorter enrollment periods, more documentation requirements, no automatic reenrollment, and higher premiums are likely to affect consumers. Analysts expect that these changes will Read More
One Big Beautiful Bill May Renew Legislative Action on PBM, HSA, and HRA Reform
Passage of the budget reconciliation bill may prompt members of Congress to take on reform of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), health savings accounts (HSAs), and individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs). More specifically, the National Association of Business and Insurance Professionals (NABIP), along with some members of Congress, has prioritized setting federal rules for PBMs, creating a Read More
President Signals Policy Shift with High Stakes for 401(k) Plans
By Anne Tyler Hall and Samuel Krause. Hall Benefits Law practitioners discuss practical and strategic takeaways for plan sponsors after the executive order was issued directing federal agencies to broaden 401(k) access to cryptocurrency, private equity, private credit, and venture capital assets. Bloomberg Daily Tax Report (Aug. 15, 2025, 4:30 AM EDT) -- On August 7, 2025, the Trump administration issued an Read More
DOL Moves to Rescind Subminimum Wage Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is retreating from a proposed rule that would have ended a program allowing employers to pay workers with disabilities an hourly wage less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The DOL is allegedly pulling the proposed rule, titled “Employment of Workers With Disabilities Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act,” due to concern about the lack of employment Read More
DOL Issues to Watch for the Remainder of 2025
If the Senate confirms President Donald Trump’s choice of Daniel Aronowitz as assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), benefits attorneys could see some major policy changes later this year. Enforcement of ERISA by EBSA Priorities in the enforcement of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) are likely to change, given DOL staff cuts and Aronowitz’s statements during Read More
Employee Benefits Provisions in Trump’s Budget Reconciliation Bill
The congressional budget reconciliation bill, which President Donald Trump signed on July 4, 2025, includes various provisions of interest to employee benefits and executive compensation attorneys. No Impact on Tax Provisions Related to Employer-Sponsored Health and Retirement Benefit Plans The GOP mega budget reconciliation package made no changes to individual and business tax provisions that concern Read More
