16 pages. "[D]espite its formal appearance and the finality of language utilized by the IRS in Letters 226-J, an ALE receiving such a Letter should deem the letter as merely opening the door for the ALE to provide the IRS with different types of responsive communications ... either agreeing with, or objecting to, the agency's proposed ESRPs.... [A table] outlines generally accepted responsive communication techniques an ALE may employ in responding to the IRS upon receipt of a Letter 226-J proposing an ESRP."  MORE >>

"The rules address verification for safe leave purposes due to bias crimes, family member 'affinity status,' job protection rights and health insurance premium repayments, reporting requirements, and appeals for equivalent plans.... The OED provides a Paid Leave Oregon model notice for employers to post in their workplaces."  MORE >>

"The new notice, effective October, 2023, is identical to the previous notice, which was issued in October 2022, except that the maximum weekly benefit has increased. The new maximum weekly benefit is $1,118."  MORE >>

"Mental health tops pregnancy, illness or injury, and caregiver leave as the most-commonly requested need for leave.... Parental leave is yesterday's news; others take it up a notch with NICU leave ... [P]aid bereavement leave and meaningful additional time off work to deal with the loss of a family member or close friend has picked up a tremendous amount of momentum in the past five years. ... [L]eave to bond with our furry friends has increasingly made its way onto the paid leave benefits charts, ... In 2022, theSkimm ... unveiled ... a free excel spreadsheet that allows the public to search and compare these leave benefits across industries"  MORE >>

"[W]here an employer is considering enhancing its benefits offering to include access to a wellness application or device ... the vendor and the health plan will need to enter into a HIPAA compliant business associate agreement that lays out the possible uses of the PHI and how it is to be secured.... Where an ERISA health plan is not involved, and HIPAA therefore would not apply, employers should still consider the implications of state law."  MORE >>

"[T]he National Health Expenditure (NHE) in 2022 grew by 4%. Medicare accounted for 13% of the total health spending, while Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) accounted for 10%. Other domestic health spending accounted for 4% [and] hospital and medical care for veterans was 2%[.]"  MORE >>