35 pages; Dec. 14, 2023. "What's New ... [1] The business mileage rate for 2024 is 67 cents per mile.... [2] For 2024, the monthly exclusion for qualified parking is $315 and the monthly exclusion for commuter highway vehicle transportation and transit passes is $315.... [3] For plan years beginning in 2024, a cafeteria plan may not allow an employee to request salary reduction contributions for a health FSA in excess of $3,200."  MORE >>

Links to sixteen 2024 Compliance Guides, including [1] ACA Employer Mandate & ACA Reporting Guide; [2] COBRA for Employers Guide; [3] Compliance Considerations for Self-Insured Plans; [4] Health Benefits for Domestic Partners; and [5] Health Benefits While on Leave. Also included are charts detailing Section 125 Permitted Election Change Events; and State Paid Family Leave.  MORE >>

"The Ordinance is effective December 31, 2023 and will replace the current Cook County Earned Sick Leave Ordinance. The Ordinance closely resembles the Illinois' Paid Leave for All Workers Act [PLAWA], which goes into effect on January 1, 2024.... Among other compliance obligations, the Ordinance requires that employers include the model notice in a written document, or written employee manual or policy."  MORE >>

"The [Tenth Circuit] has continued to focus on residential treatment center claims, having recently issued two additional precedential opinions in cases involving residential treatment centers ... Both of these cases drew amicus briefs (a brief by the National Health Law Program and the Kennedy Forum in E.W., and a brief by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Ian C.), and show that the Tenth Circuit is responding to the large numbers of residential treatment cases with lengthy opinions and detailed analysis and guidance." [E.W. v. Health Net Life Ins. Co., No. 21-4110 (10th Cir. Nov. 21, 2023); C. v. UnitedHealthcare Ins. Co., No. 22-4082 (10th Cir. Dec. 5, 2023)]  MORE >>

"In the lawsuit, the EEOC alleges that a supervisor subjected an employee to sexual harassment, and the employer fired her after she refused to comply with its unlawful directive to participate in the company employee assistance program (EAP).... The mandatory EAP participation would have required her to undergo a medical examination, answer questions related to disability, and release her medical information to the company so that they could determine whether to place her on disability leave." [EEOC v. Weis Markets, Inc., No. 23-1767 (M.D. Penn. complaint filed Oct. 25, 2023)]  MORE >>

"If you decided on a compliance-only approach, you are spending more in at least two ways: [1] Certain expenses that would have been processed using separate out-of-network cost sharing are now treated under in-network rules, and [2] You are paying for added administrative expenses ... The best response to the NSA is the same as it was for Health Reform -- deploy both strategic and compliance-oriented responses."  MORE >>

"Workplaces increasingly are offering employees access to digital mental health tools, including AI chatbots meant to mimic therapists and wellness apps that diagnose mental health conditions ... The capabilities and goals of these services vary."  MORE >>

"EFAST2 website credentials have changed to Login.gov. You can no longer sign into this website with an EFAST2 User ID and Password. On January 1, 2024 EFAST released the 2023 Form 5500, 5500-SF, and 5500EZ for filing of annual returns/reports. Electronic filing for Form 5558 is unavailable for form year 2023."  MORE >>