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	<title>DMEC Legislative Updates</title>
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		<title>DMEC Legislative Updates</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com</link>
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		<item>
		<title>WHD RELEASES FACT SHEET ON FMLA &amp; RETALIATION</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/whd-releases-fact-sheet-on-fmla-retaliation/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/whd-releases-fact-sheet-on-fmla-retaliation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:07:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family leave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FMLA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leave]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In December 2011, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor (DOL) released a Fact Sheet regarding protection for individuals under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This fact sheet provides general information concerning the FMLA’s prohibition of retaliating against an individual for exercising his or her rights or participating in [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=777&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/whd-releases-fact-sheet-on-fmla-retaliation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>HHS DELAYS EFFECTIVE DATE FOR RELIGIOUS EMPLOYERS</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/hhs-delays-effective-date-for-religious-employers/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/hhs-delays-effective-date-for-religious-employers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:37:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=774</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On January 20, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement delaying the effective date of a rule requiring coverage of contraceptive services for religious employers.  In August 2011, HHS issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=774&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/hhs-delays-effective-date-for-religious-employers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>IRS ISSUES MORE GUIDANCE ON W-2 REPORTING OF HEALTH BENEFITS</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/irs-issues-more-guidance-on-w-2-reporting-of-health-benefits/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/irs-issues-more-guidance-on-w-2-reporting-of-health-benefits/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:56:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flexible Spending Accounts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIPAA Privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=769</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On January 3, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service published Notice 2012-9, providing interim guidance on informational reporting to employees of the cost of their group health insurance coverage.  This notice restates and amends the interim guidance initially provided in Notice 2011-28. This informational reporting is required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=769&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/irs-issues-more-guidance-on-w-2-reporting-of-health-benefits/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>7TH CIRCUIT ALLOWS HR DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS IN DISCRIMINATION CASE</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/7th-circuit-allows-hr-directors-comments-in-discrimination-case/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/7th-circuit-allows-hr-directors-comments-in-discrimination-case/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:58:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FMLA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pregnancy discrimination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[termination of employment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that comments made by lower-level managers, such as those in human resources, can be admissible as evidence, even if that individual was not the final decisionmaker taking an adverse action.  Lisa Makowski, an employee of SmithAmundsen, LLC, took leave under the Family Medical [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=765&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/7th-circuit-allows-hr-directors-comments-in-discrimination-case/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<title>DOL PROPOSES HIRING GOAL FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/dol-proposes-hiring-goal-for-federal-contractors/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/dol-proposes-hiring-goal-for-federal-contractors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADA Amendments Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=762</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7% of their workforces be people with disabilities. The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) invites public comment on this proposal. OFCCP’s proposed rule would strengthen the affirmative [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=762&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/dol-proposes-hiring-goal-for-federal-contractors/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>EEOC SAYS REQUIRING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA MAY VIOLATE THE ADA?!</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/eeoc-says-requiring-a-high-school-diploma-may-violate-the-ada/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/eeoc-says-requiring-a-high-school-diploma-may-violate-the-ada/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:53:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EEOC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=760</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Office of Legal Counsel staff members wrote a letter to respond to a request for public comment about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the rules regarding qualification standards and disparate impact under the ADA. The letter is an informal discussion of the issue and does not constitute an [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=760&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/eeoc-says-requiring-a-high-school-diploma-may-violate-the-ada/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>CALIFORNIA HEALTH FACILITIES MUST HAVE LIFTING POLICIES</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/california-health-facilities-must-have-lifting-policies/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/california-health-facilities-must-have-lifting-policies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:57:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wellness programs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=757</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Effective January 1, 2012, AB 1136 amended the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 to require an employer to maintain a safe patient handling Policy for patient care units and to provide trained lift teams or staff trained in safe lifting techniques in most general acute care hospitals. The safe patient handling policy [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=757&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/california-health-facilities-must-have-lifting-policies/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS: HHS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/essential-health-benefits-hhs-informational-bulletin/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/essential-health-benefits-hhs-informational-bulletin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:12:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=753</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On December 16, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a bulletin outlining proposed policies that will give States more flexibility in implementing the Affordable Care Act.  HHS  released information about this intended approach to give consumers, states, employers and issuers timely information as they work towards establishing Affordable Insurance Exchanges and [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=753&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/essential-health-benefits-hhs-informational-bulletin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<media:content url="http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d8e856ea524399dca0b29d053a3892ab?s=96&#38;d=identicon&#38;r=G" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>DOL WORKING WITH STATES TO REDUCE WORKER MISCLASSIFICATIONS</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/dol-working-with-states-to-reduce-worker-misclassifications/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/dol-working-with-states-to-reduce-worker-misclassifications/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:12:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FLSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FMLA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workers' compensation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=751</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Department of Labor (DOL)’s Misclassification Initiative means employers need to review whether employees are correctly classified as employees or independent contractors.  Business models that attempt to change, obscure or eliminate the employment relationship are not inherently illegal, unless they are used to evade compliance with federal labor law.  According to the DOL, the misclassification of [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=751&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/dol-working-with-states-to-reduce-worker-misclassifications/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">johngarner</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>SAN FRANCISCO EMPLOYERS MAY NEED TO ACT QUICKLY TO COMPLY</title>
		<link>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/san-francisco-employers-may-need-to-act-quickly-to-comply/</link>
		<comments>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/san-francisco-employers-may-need-to-act-quickly-to-comply/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:41:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>johngarner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Retirement Income Security Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Francisco]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/?p=748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An amendment to San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance will be effective January 1, 2012.  Employers that use Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to comply with the law will need to act quickly in response to this amendment. San Francisco’s law requires most employers with employees working in the City to spend a minimum amount on [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=dmeclegal.wordpress.com&amp;blog=2946345&amp;post=748&amp;subd=dmeclegal&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dmeclegal.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/san-francisco-employers-may-need-to-act-quickly-to-comply/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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