"The ordinance and subsequent amendment ... go well beyond the recently passed Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act, with Chicago now mandating that employers provide Chicago employees: [1] at least 5 days (40 hours) of paid sick/safe leave per year; and [2] at least 5 days (40 hours) of regular paid time off (PTO) per year. Unlike the rest of Illinois, which will be subject to the separate Illinois law, effective on January 1, 2024, Chicago's existing paid leave laws will remain in effect until July 2024."  MORE >>

"The City of San Diego's Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement (OLSE) has issued guidance on complying with state and the City of San Diego's paid sick leave requirements. San Diego's local ordinance already required employers to provide no less than 40 hours of earned sick leave. The OLSE notes other areas where either the San Diego ordinance is silent or the state statute is more generous, in which case the state statute must be followed."  MORE >>

"[T]he Tenth Circuit found that ... ERISA preempted Huff's state law claims because the factual basis for his lawsuit was a challenge to the increase in premiums under his company-furnished life insurance plans. The court rejected his argument that he had converted the life insurance policy to an individual one with MetLife when he left employment." [Huff v. BP Corporation North America, Inc., No. 23-5022 (10th Cir. Dec. 20, 2023)]  MORE >>

"The question is whether health insurers are using their AI predictive tools properly, in accordance with state and federal law, or whether they are being deployed solely as cost-saving measures to improperly deny patients and health care providers coverage and payment for medically necessary services."  MORE >>

"[T]here could be network agreements the plan sponsor has not seen (and may not even have the right to see).... [T]he plan sponsor needs to look at its direct contracts with each vendor.... [M]ore than just current plan vendors need to be considered.... Finally, there isn't a 'right' answer if a plan sponsor determines that they have inadvertently entered a contract with a gag clause."  MORE >>

"The DOL press release explained that the 2018 rule made it easier for small and individual plans to be treated as large group plans in order to evade some of the requirements and protections of the [ACA]."  MORE >>

"Just over half (51%) of workers say fully paid health insurance premiums top the list of benefits they want from employers ... [F]ew companies offer this job perk, and the number has been declining in recent years ... Gen Z workers ages 18-24 value free food just as much as fully-paid health-care premiums."  MORE >>

"The [IRS] today provided tax relief for individuals and businesses in parts of Tennessee affected by severe storms and tornadoes that began on Dec. 9. These taxpayers now have until June 17, 2024, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.... Currently, this includes Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Sumner counties. Individuals and households that reside or have a business in these counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>