October 2019
Stay Current Newsletter

Approximately 85% of employee benefit plans renew in December or January. The BDR team is working in advance to ensure we are able to complete all processing in a timely fashion. The following reminders will help you and your employees know what to anticipate during this busy open enrollment season.

We have attached a PDF that can be distributed to your employees. Click here to download.
Anchor2 HRDR Blog - Salary Threshold Increase for 2020

Last week, the US Department of Labor announced an increase to the federal salary threshold for the "white-collar" exemptions from overtime pay. As of January 1, 2020, the weekly salary threshold increases from $455 to $684. If an employee does not meet the exemption requirements, they are eligible for overtime. As 2020 approaches, now is the time to review your exemption classifications and make changes, if necessary. 

Click here to read the HR Done Right Blog .

Anchor3IRS Confirms ACA Pay or Play Penalties Still Apply

No Waiver or Transition Relief is Currently Available

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service released an information letter regarding the Affordable Care Act's employer shared responsibility (pay or play) penalties. The information letter is intended to clarify the applicability of the penalties in light of President Trump's 2017 executive order broadly directing federal agencies to waive, delay or grant exemptions from ACA requirements that may impose a financial burden.

The information letter:
  • Confirms that the ACA's pay or play penalties continue to apply to applicable large employers (ALEs) that fail to offer affordable, minimum value health coverage to their full-time employees (and dependents).
  • Indicates that the law does not provide for any waiver of the pay or play penalties.
  • Reiterates that, while several forms of transition relief were available for 2015 and 2016, no transition relief is available for 2017 and future years. 
This information letter confirms the IRS' position that the executive order does not change the law, and that the ACA's provisions are still effective until changed by Congress. As a result, the ACA's pay or play penalties still apply. ALEs must continue to comply with this requirement, including paying any penalties that may be owed.

Article reprinted with permission from HR360.com

Anchor4Harassment Prevention Training

Governor Brown expanded the harassment prevention training requirement to employers with five or more employees effective in 2019. These employers are now required to provide training to all employees. An extension has been granted by Governor Newsom, giving employers until January 1, 2021.

Click here for more information on training requirements and to register for our next employee harassment prevention session on October 16.

Click here to register for our next manager/supervisor session on October 23.

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