Medical Marijuana is here!
Stronger marijuana, expanded medical conditions
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Mental Health discrimination claims rising
EEOC publishes end of year Resource Document
The EEOC's end of year annual performance report noted that the agency
secured $347.9 for private sector employees through mediation, conciliation, or settlements, and another $52.2 million through agency litigation. Discrimination claims based on mental health conditions are on the rise and that, in 2016, it resolved almost 5,000 charges based on such conditions. The Resource Document is geared toward employees, but employers can benefit from this user-friendly information. Read more.
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New updated ACA information from IRS
FAQs updated on Form 1095-C and penalties in 2017
In December, the IRS updated several FAQ sections related to
completing Form 1094-C and Form 1095-C for calendar year 2016, information to be provided to employees (Section 6056) and shared responsibility payments (pay or play) provision. For calendar year 2016
, the adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,160 and the adjusted $3,000 amount is $3,240.
Read more.
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IRS publishes new 2017 W-4 form
Update your new hire packet
In late December, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published its new W-4 form for employers. New employees must complete a W-4 form, and existing employees may complete a new form if they want to change their withholding allowances. Download the new W-4.
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Seasonal Employees under the ACA
Seasonal workers do not count toward employer size
An employer is not an applicable large employer (ALE) if both of the following apply: (1) the employer's workforce exceeds 50 full-time employees (including full-time equivalent employees) for 120 days or fewer during the preceding calendar year, and (2) all of the employees in excess of 50 employed during that period of no more than 120 days are seasonal workers. Seasonal workers are workers who perform labor or services on a seasonal basis as defined by the Department of Labor, and retail workers employed exclusively during holiday seasons. Employers may apply a reasonable, good faith interpretation of the term "seasonal worker."
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Stand alone HRA for Small Employers
Exempt from Affordable Care Act requirements
President Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act which allows small employers to offer new "qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements"
to reimburse employees for qualified medical expenses, including individual health insurance premiums
, for years after December 31, 2016
. Small employers are defined as those with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees who do not offer a group health plan. These arrangements are not subject to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act's (COBRA) continuation coverage requirement. Read more.
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Will Agile performance management replace the traditional performance review?
Emerging trends to manage employee behaviors
It's that time of year. End of year annual performance reviews have just occurred, or are about to happen. A recent article in Harvard Business Review (HBR) explains that more and more companies are rethinking the traditional appraisal process, seeking something that employees and supervisors can approve. Traditional systems focus on accountability and rewards, while newer systems focus emphasis on improvement, growth and development. Read more.
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