In Revenue Procedure 2019-19 effective April 19, 2019, the IRS expanded a plan sponsor’s ability to Self-Correct certain retirement plan failures. This expansion makes it easier for plan sponsors to fix retirement plan mistakes without paying the fee assessed for corrections and, more importantly, without contacting the IRS. The changes expand the Self-Correction Program in
Employee Benefits
Ten Changes to Consider for Your Benefit Plans in 2019
2019 is the year of “tidying up” thanks to the popular Netflix show. Start the year off by reevaluating your employee benefit plans to determine whether they continue to meet the changing needs of your workforce while complying with changing regulatory requirements. Here is our top-ten list of changes to consider in 2019 (in no…
McNees Expands Employee Benefits Practice – Welcome Renee Lieux and Kim Weibley
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC is pleased to announce the expansion of its Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group with the recent addition of attorney Renee Lieux and specialist Kimberly Weibley.
Renee has focused her practice on executive compensation and employee benefits for nearly 20 years. She assists both private and publicly traded companies…
New IRS Regulations Ease the Way for Hardship Withdrawals from Qualified Retirement Plans
On February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act directed the IRS to revise regulations governing hardship withdrawal provisions in qualified plans. The legislative goal was to expand the circumstances under which hardship withdrawals may be made and eliminate some of the penalties associated with hardship withdrawals.
On…
DOL Opinion Letter Addresses Whether Employees Must Be Paid for Wellness Activities
Over the past fifteen years, wellness programs have generated more than their fair share of litigation and regulatory scrutiny – primarily over the issue of whether they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A related compliance issue that has attracted relatively little attention from courts and regulators is whether, under the Fair Labor Standards…
Governor Wolf Issues Executive Order Attempting to Address Pay Inequality
On June 6, 2018, Governor Wolf signed Executive Order 2018-18-03, which is designed to combat the gender pay gap in Pennsylvania. The Executive Order directs all state agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction to:
- no longer inquire about a job applicant’s current compensation or compensation history at any stage during the hiring process;
- base salaries on
…
Pennsylvania Court Addresses Individual Liability Under COBRA (and How to Avoid it)
With increasing frequency, when employees sue their employer or former employer, they also name individual managers or the company’s owners as defendants in their suit. Under federal EEO laws (e.g. Title VII, ADA, ADEA), individuals generally cannot be held liable for acts of discrimination. However, employment laws such as the FMLA, FLSA and the Pennsylvania…
Are Employers on the Hook for Employee Injuries Sustained in Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs?
An ever-increasing number of employers are sponsoring wellness incentives as a means of encouraging employees to developing healthy habits. In turn, employers gain healthier, more productive work forces. Wellness incentive programs aren’t without their risks, however. In this podcast, Denise Elliott discusses whether employees are covered by workers’ compensation benefits for injuries sustained while…
Third Circuit Clarifies What Constitutes a Willful Violation of the FLSA
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes requirements for minimum wages and overtime pay. The FLSA’s requirements can be complex, and employers can face significant liability for unpaid wages and liquidated damages by failing to ensure compliance with its myriad requirements.
The FLSA contains a somewhat unique quirk regarding its statute of limitations. The…
Employers Permitted to Modify Retiree Benefits Following Expiration of CBA
In a closely watched case for employers, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands, recently held that retiree healthcare benefits provided in a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) may be subject to modification following the expiration of the CBA.