Comments for DMEC Legislative Updates http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:21:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on IRS ALLOWS DEPOSITING UNUSED VACATION AND SICK LEAVE TO 401(k)s by johngarner http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/irs-allows-depositing-unused-vacation-and-sick-leave-to-401ks/#comment-247 johngarner Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:21:48 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=265#comment-247 The Revenue Rulings do not specifically address IRAs or SIMPLE 401(k)s, so we called the IRS and were told (informally, of course) that the Revenue Rulings do not apply to IRAs or SIMPLE 401(k)s. The Revenue Rulings do not specifically address IRAs or SIMPLE 401(k)s, so we called the IRS and were told (informally, of course) that the Revenue Rulings do not apply to IRAs or SIMPLE 401(k)s.

]]> Comment on Health Care Reform Myths and Facts by Chris Skisak http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/health-care-reform-myths-and-facts/#comment-246 Chris Skisak Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:50:56 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-246 One of the issues which was not discussed above and which will impact all employers is the proposed 8% payroll tax penalty that employers will be required to pay if they do not provide a minimum of health insurance coverage. Why is this not being discussed more frequently by professional organizations? I occasionally see some discussion in news outlets. Employers currently spend an average of 11.5% of payroll on health insurance with a high of 17% and a low of 8%. Most employers would prefer not to have to deal with the complexities of providing health insurance. Most employers will eventually decide to pay the tax rather than be subject to ever rising healthcare costs. Job recruitment and retention is often cited as a reason for why this will not happen. However, once a few leading companies make this decision there will be a mass exodus from employer-sponsored healthcare. One way to stem this tide would be to continue to focus on the productivity aspects of an HPM strategy rather than purely the cost reduction strategy. One of the issues which was not discussed above and which will impact all employers is the proposed 8% payroll tax penalty that employers will be required to pay if they do not provide a minimum of health insurance coverage. Why is this not being discussed more frequently by professional organizations? I occasionally see some discussion in news outlets. Employers currently spend an average of 11.5% of payroll on health insurance with a high of 17% and a low of 8%. Most employers would prefer not to have to deal with the complexities of providing health insurance. Most employers will eventually decide to pay the tax rather than be subject to ever rising healthcare costs. Job recruitment and retention is often cited as a reason for why this will not happen. However, once a few leading companies make this decision there will be a mass exodus from employer-sponsored healthcare. One way to stem this tide would be to continue to focus on the productivity aspects of an HPM strategy rather than purely the cost reduction strategy.

]]> Comment on IRS ALLOWS DEPOSITING UNUSED VACATION AND SICK LEAVE TO 401(k)s by Joe Wozniak http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/irs-allows-depositing-unused-vacation-and-sick-leave-to-401ks/#comment-233 Joe Wozniak Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:04:47 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=265#comment-233 I endorse this as an great employer and employee benefit. In fact, it saves the Employer from paying the Employer share of taxes (FICA, SUI, WORK COMP, Etc.) so it is a real company benefit as well as a great savings vehicle for employees. Does this also apply to IRA's and SIMPLES utilized by smaller employers? I endorse this as an great employer and employee benefit. In fact, it saves the Employer from paying the Employer share of taxes (FICA, SUI, WORK COMP, Etc.) so it is a real company benefit as well as a great savings vehicle for employees.

Does this also apply to IRA’s and SIMPLES utilized by smaller employers?

]]> Comment on Health Care Reform Myths and Facts by Joe Wozniak http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/health-care-reform-myths-and-facts/#comment-230 Joe Wozniak Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:16:34 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=254#comment-230 I agree with one particular point identified in this article. That point is there are five (5) different senate and congressional bills in various stages. They do not all include or exclude the same elements we hear about in the media. We need to see what the "final" bill proposes. Then citizens can choose to like or dislike as they see the particulars affecting themselves and their children. I agree with one particular point identified in this article. That point is there are five (5) different senate and congressional bills in various stages. They do not all include or exclude the same elements we hear about in the media. We need to see what the “final” bill proposes. Then citizens can choose to like or dislike as they see the particulars affecting themselves and their children.

]]> Comment on Guidance for Employers to Plan for the Flu Season by shadows http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/guidance-for-employers-to-plan-for-the-flu-season/#comment-219 shadows Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:17:41 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=250#comment-219 Vaccines are the most powerful public health tool for control of influenza, and the U.S. government is working closely with manufacturers to take steps in the process to manufacture a 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Working together with scientists in the public and private sector, CDC has isolated the new H1N1 virus and modified the virus so that it can be used to make hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers are now using these materials to begin vaccine production. Making vaccine is a multi-step process which takes several months to complete. Candidate vaccines will be tested in clinical trials over the few months. Vaccines are the most powerful public health tool for control of influenza, and the U.S. government is working closely with manufacturers to take steps in the process to manufacture a 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Working together with scientists in the public and private sector, CDC has isolated the new H1N1 virus and modified the virus so that it can be used to make hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers are now using these materials to begin vaccine production. Making vaccine is a multi-step process which takes several months to complete. Candidate vaccines will be tested in clinical trials over the few months.

]]> Comment on Failure to Clarify “Ambiguous” Claim Leaves No Proof of FMLA Violation by Posts about Title VII (best posts combined for review) as of August 18, 2009 | Discrimination Law News http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/failure-to-clarify-%e2%80%9cambiguous%e2%80%9d-claim-leaves-no-proof-of-fmla-violation/#comment-214 Posts about Title VII (best posts combined for review) as of August 18, 2009 | Discrimination Law News Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:52:04 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=245#comment-214 [...] Propak Logistics Inc., a nationwide freight management company based in Forth Smith, Arkansas. Failure to Clarify “Ambiguous” Claim Leaves No Proof of FMLA Violation – dmeclegal.wordpress.com 08/18/2009 The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found that [...] [...] Propak Logistics Inc., a nationwide freight management company based in Forth Smith, Arkansas. Failure to Clarify “Ambiguous” Claim Leaves No Proof of FMLA Violation – dmeclegal.wordpress.com 08/18/2009 The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found that [...]

]]> Comment on Does the Ricci Decision Put Employers Between a Rock and a Hard Place? by Posts about Employment Discrimination Law (best posts combined for review) as of August 14, 2009 | Discrimination Law News http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/does-the-ricci-decision-put-employers-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/#comment-213 Posts about Employment Discrimination Law (best posts combined for review) as of August 14, 2009 | Discrimination Law News Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:12:46 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=240#comment-213 [...] Law (best posts combined for review) as of August 14, 2009 2009 August 14 by admin DOES THE RICCI DECISION PUT EMPLOYERS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE? – dmeclegal.wordpress.com 08/14/2009 Many employers may feel that they are caught between the [...] [...] Law (best posts combined for review) as of August 14, 2009 2009 August 14 by admin DOES THE RICCI DECISION PUT EMPLOYERS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE? – dmeclegal.wordpress.com 08/14/2009 Many employers may feel that they are caught between the [...]

]]> Comment on Economic Stimulus Package Includes Health-Related Provisions by Sherry Gatewood http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/economic-stimulus-package-includes-health-related-provisions/#comment-173 Sherry Gatewood Wed, 27 May 2009 14:16:24 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=183#comment-173 "The subsidy will end when an individual is OFFERED other group coverage.... These rules are different than the rules for terminating COBRA coverage, which require that the individual actually become covered by another group health plan...." This is a small detail many have not picked up on yet that could have serious consequences. For example, if a job seeker has enlistede the aid of one or more employment agencies for permanent full=time work and may want to work contract or temp while searching, if you work contract for that agency, you are an employee of the agency and will most lilkely be OFFERED insurance, whereby your COBRA will be terminated. In my opinion, that clause in the COBRA regulation is unfair and punitive, and should be reversed. “The subsidy will end when an individual is OFFERED other group coverage…. These rules are different than the rules for terminating COBRA coverage, which require that the individual actually become covered by another group health plan….” This is a small detail many have not picked up on yet that could have serious consequences. For example, if a job seeker has enlistede the aid of one or more employment agencies for permanent full=time work and may want to work contract or temp while searching, if you work contract for that agency, you are an employee of the agency and will most lilkely be OFFERED insurance, whereby your COBRA will be terminated.

In my opinion, that clause in the COBRA regulation is unfair and punitive, and should be reversed.

]]> Comment on Domestic Violence Leave Laws Growing Trend Nationally by Maria Phelps http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/domestic-violence-leave-laws-growing-trend-nationally/#comment-137 Maria Phelps Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:41:32 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=189#comment-137 This seems to be a good site and I will be following, is there any way you could keep an eye on bill S4796, GPS tracking for abusers with restraining orders in NYS? It has been reintroduced this year, it was rejected by the assembly last year. Thank you for the great info. Maria www.4surivors.blogspot.com This seems to be a good site and I will be following, is there any way you could keep an eye on bill S4796, GPS tracking for abusers with restraining orders in NYS? It has been reintroduced this year, it was rejected by the assembly last year. Thank you for the great info.

Maria

http://www.4surivors.blogspot.com

]]> Comment on Economic Stimulus Package Includes Health-Related Provisions by janet bausch http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/economic-stimulus-package-includes-health-related-provisions/#comment-129 janet bausch Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:51:32 +0000 http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=183#comment-129 What do people do that are on cobra paying high premiums and cannot take part in the reduction with the stimulus package. What do people do that are on cobra paying high premiums and cannot take part in the reduction with the stimulus package.

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