INSIGHTS
Visit Insights regularly to find industry-shaping news, trends, guidance and more.
OSHA’s TOP 10 Cited Violations in 2019
Author: Michael Rosenthal
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released their Top 10 violations for 2019. For the 9th year in a row “Fall Protection” ranks as the most cited violation. OSHA publishes this list to alert employers about these commonly cited standards so employers can take steps to find and fix recognized hazards. “The OSHA…
Increased DOL Enforcement Returns $322M in Wages to Employees
Author: Adam Kulliver
With $322 Million collected, fiscal year 2019 became a record year for the recovery of unpaid employee compensation by the DOL’s Wage & Hour Division. “These record-breaking numbers top the Department’s totals from last year, which also set records, and confirm our ongoing commitment to strong enforcement and to providing employers with the tools they…
HR Self-Help Tools & Downloads – Are They Worth It?
Author: hrwsAdmin
As we review employee handbooks from companies across the country, we find that many of these documents were constructed from self-help tools or templates downloaded from the internet. Our advisors explain that many of them share similar issues, such as: the exclusion of state or local regulations, for example, state-specific sick leave laws. the inadvertent…
HRWS Compliance Alert: FLSA Overtime
Author: Michael Rosenthal
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced on September 24, 2019, that it will publish a final overtime rule, setting the minimum salary threshold for overtime eligibility at $35,568 or $684 per week. This is an increase from the current amount of $455 per week. The change will make an estimated 1.3 million, additional U.S….
What Can Football Teach Us About HR?
Author: hrwsAdmin
Professional athletes have never been shy about posting their thoughts on social media. Over the last couple of months we’ve seen a top NFL player and even an active coach, bring new light on its impact. As you may have seen, Antonio Brown took to social media to allegedly “force” his way out of Oakland…
Do You Have to Pay Employees if a Natural Disaster Occurs?
Author: hrwsAdmin
As Hurricane Dorian moves up the United States’ eastern coastline, we thought it would be a good time to discuss what happens to employee wages if a business needs to shut down due to a natural disaster. It is important to know what employers are required to do in these situations regarding wage and salary…
IRS Sending ACA Penalties Letters at Staggering Pace
Author: hrwsAdmin
The HR Workplace Services (HRWS) Advisory and Compliance teams have been inundated with calls and emails from our insurance brokerage partners and their clients, regarding ACA penalty letters (coming from the IRS). Each letter representing thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars from one employer to the next. And rather than slowing down, the pace…
401(k) Left-Behind Rollover Rule Eased by DOL
Author: hrwsAdmin
It is now easier for an employer to transfer 401(k) plan funds left behind by former workers to the individuals’ new employer’s plans. This comes as a result of a recent exemption adopted by the Department of Labor (DOL) – one granted with the intent to help high-turnover industry employers who often find themselves tasked…
IRS Announces 2020 HSA Contribution Limits
Author: hrwsAdmin
The IRS announced the 2020 annual inflation adjusted limits for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Contributions and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Out of Pocket limits. The information was announced in Rev. Proc. 2019-25. Please reference the table below for specific details: 2019 2020 HSA Maximum Contribution – Single $3,500 $3,550 HSA Maximum Contribution – Family…
HIPAA, Data Breaches and What You Should Know (Even If You’re Not a Healthcare Company)
Author: hrwsAdmin
When it comes to compliance, most everyone agrees that the privacy regulations set forth by HIPAA are necessary. Yes, even if keeping up with them means extra effort (and expense). For healthcare organizations, a full commitment to HIPAA compliance is obligatory. But, did you know there are others who are similarly implicated? This group includes…
