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Oklahoma Payroll Deposit & Card Law Now In Effect

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Nov 1

Oklahoma Payroll Deposit & Card Law Now In Effect

Adopted in May of this year, Oklahoma Senate Bill 1345 became effective on November 1, 2022; and allows employers the option of paying employee wages through deposit at a financial institution or payroll card. State Wage Payment Requirements Oklahoma law requires employers to pay wages in lawful U.S. currency or through electronic means. Every employer-issued check, cashier’s check, draft, time check, store order or scrip must be redeemable on demand and at face value (with n

3 Tips for Supporting the Mental Health of Remote & Hybrid Employees

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Sep 30

3 Tips for Supporting the Mental Health of Remote & Hybrid Employees

With many employees continuing to work remotely or adapt to a hybrid schedule, workers face a new set of stressful challenges. Managers can play a crucial role in helping employees manage their stress levels by gauging the pulse of their team and offering the right support and resources. This article highlights three tips for managing hybrid and remote employees to help support their mental health and reduce work-related stress. 1. Watch for Signs of Burnout: If an employee

Court Ruling Highlights FMLA Leave Interference

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Jul 26

Court Ruling Highlights FMLA Leave Interference

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in Ziccarelli v.Dart that an employer can violate the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by discouraging an employee from exercising FMLA rights without denying an FMLA leave request. The 7th Circuit’s jurisdiction covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Statutory Language of the FMLA The FMLA provides that an employer may not “interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided u

HIPAA Privacy Guidance Issued for Reproductive Health Care

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Jul 8

HIPAA Privacy Guidance Issued for Reproductive Health Care

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new guidance regarding HIPAA’s privacy protections for reproductive health care. The guidance focuses on health care providers’ obligation under the HIPAA Privacy Rule to safeguard the privacy of protected health information (PHI) related to reproductive health care, including abortions. According to HHS, the HIPAA Privacy Ru

Thrive PEO

May 26

FMLA and Mental Health Conditions

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released new resources on workers’ rights to leave for mental health conditions under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In a press release, the DOL said it published the new guidance in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. New DOL Fact Sheet and FAQs The new guidance includes: Fact Sheet #28O: Mental Health Conditions and the FMLA Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the FMLA’s mental

2023 Health Savings Account (HSA) Limits Released

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May 4

2023 Health Savings Account (HSA) Limits Released

The IRS has announced the 2023 inflation-adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs) as determined under the Internal Revenue Code. Annual Contribution Limits For calendar year 2023, the annual limit on HSA contributions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan (HDHP) is $3,850 (up from $3,650 for 2022). The annual limit on HSA contributions for an individual with family coverage under an HDHP is $7,750 (up from $7,300 for 2022). H

What are the Top Threats to Company Culture in 2022?

Thrive PEO

Mar 29

What are the Top Threats to Company Culture in 2022?

Employee experience (EX) is a priority for most HR leaders, but positive EX can’t exist without healthy company culture. Culture represents the sum of values and beliefs that a company promotes and performs. But what is likely to threaten company culture this year? Here’s what employees think HR leaders should be watching out for: Overworking & Burnout: With 75% of employees feeling burnt out in 2021, it’s not a surprise that overworked employees/burnout was identified as a t

Guidance Issued on 401(k) Plan Investments in “Cryptocurrencies”

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Mar 11

Guidance Issued on 401(k) Plan Investments in “Cryptocurrencies”

On March 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Compliance Assistance Release No. 2022-01 cautioning plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before considering adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan’s investment menu for plan participants. According to the DOL, these investments present significant risks and challenges to participants’ retirement accounts for a variety of reasons listed in the guidance. The DOL is advising plan fiduciaries that overse

Thrive PEO

Jan 25

OSHA Withdraws COVID-19 ETS

On Jan. 25, 2022, OSHA provided notice that it is withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccination and weekly testing emergency temporary standard (ETS). The withdrawal will be effective once the notice is published in the Federal Register. The expected publication date is Jan. 26, 2022. The ETS was adopted to protect unvaccinated employees working for employers with 100 or more employees from the risk of contracting COVID-19. This ETS required employers to adopt either a mandatory vacci

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Jan 12

OTC COVID-19 Testing Guidance Issued

Group Health Plans Must Cover OTC Covid Tests Effective January 15, 2022. On January 11, 2022, The Departments of Health & Human Services, Labor and Treasury issued guidance, via a series of FAQs, indicating that group health plans must cover over-the-counter (OTC) COVID tests beginning January 15, 2022; and for the duration of the public health emergency. This new information is based on provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Ai

Supreme Court to Hold Hearings on Fed Vaccine Mandates

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Dec 23, 2021

Supreme Court to Hold Hearings on Fed Vaccine Mandates

OSHA Will Delay Enforcement Until January 10 On Dec. 22, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments regarding whether two federal vaccine requirements can be enforced while legal appeals are in process. On Jan. 7, 2022, the Court will consider requests on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) emergency rule requiring

Judge Halts Biden Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

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Dec 8, 2021

Judge Halts Biden Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

A federal judge in Georgia on Tuesday temporarily halted the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors across the country. The ruling by U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for President Biden as his administration seeks to blunt the effects of a global pandemic that has killed more than 788,000 people in the U.S. “The Court acknowledges the tragic toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought throughout th

Guidance Issued On Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

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Dec 2, 2021

Guidance Issued On Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued guidance on how to implement the federal contractor safety protocol contained in the Executive Order No. 14042 which mandates vaccinations for federal contractors as part of the administration’s plan to stop the spread of COVID-19 and its new emerging and more contagious cousins. As a result, federal contractors are now responsible for ensuring that covered contractor employees conform to the following safety protocols: Fully vacc

OSHA Issues Vaccination & Testing Mandate

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Nov 4, 2021

OSHA Issues Vaccination & Testing Mandate

This morning, the White House announced that OSHA is issuing a COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that applies to employers with 100 or more employees ( “covered employers”). The White House summary of the ETS can be found here. The ETS is available here. According to the summary, the ETS will require covered employers to do the following: Get their employees fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. Require unvaccinated employees to produce a nega

Understanding COVID Vaccine Coverage and Premium Discounts

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Oct 13, 2021

Understanding COVID Vaccine Coverage and Premium Discounts

On Oct. 4, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued FAQs addressing rules regarding premium incentives for COVID-19 vaccinations and rapid coverage of preventive services for COVID-19. Premium Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccinations The FAQs clarify that a group health plan (or health insurance issuer offering coverage in connection with a group health plan) may offer participants a premium discount for receiving

OSHA to Mandate Vaccine and Testing for COVID-19

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Sep 10, 2021

OSHA to Mandate Vaccine and Testing for COVID-19

On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that will require private-sector employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 every week before coming to work. This announcement follows the vaccination, masking and social distancing requirements issued by the president in July for the public sector—fe

Additional IRS Q&As on ARPA COBRA Subsidy

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Aug 2, 2021

Additional IRS Q&As on ARPA COBRA Subsidy

On July 26, 2021, the IRS issued Notice 2021-46, providing additional guidance on the application of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subsidy for continuation health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) in the form of 11 questions and answers. The Notice expands on prior guidance issued on May 18, 2021. The questions addressed include: Subsidy availability to individuals eligible for an extension who had not elected it; Whether

IRS Issues Guidance on ARPA COBRA Subsidies

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May 26, 2021

IRS Issues Guidance on ARPA COBRA Subsidies

On May 18, 2021, the IRS issued Notice 2021-31, a guidance document on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subsidy for continuation health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). The Notice discusses the background of the subsidy and includes 86 questions and answers (Q&As) about its application. Among the topics covered by the 40-page Notice are how to calculate and claim the tax credit, including when a third-party payer is involve

EEO-1 Reporting Set to Begin April 26, 2021

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Apr 2, 2021

EEO-1 Reporting Set to Begin April 26, 2021

The portal for private-sector employers to submit equal employment opportunity (EEO-1) workforce data from 2019 and 2020 will open on April 26, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced March 29, 2021. The agency also announced that the deadline for submitting 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 data is July 19, 2021. This data collection was previously delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mandated under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the EEO-1 Report i

Employment-related Provisions Included in Biden's New Relief Bill

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Mar 16, 2021

Employment-related Provisions Included in Biden's New Relief Bill

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a $1.9 trillion relief bill containing financial benefits for individuals, businesses, state and local governments and more. Measures of particular interest to employers and employees include the following: Subsidy for COBRA premiums. The subsidy covers 100% of an eligible individual’s COBRA premium from April 1 through Sept. 30, 2021. The subsidy is funded through refundable payroll t

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