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Business Roundtable Letter to Congress Supporting Bill to Repeal ACA Tax on Health Insurance Premiums

"Business Roundtable (BRT) strongly supports legislation (S. 1880 and H.R. 1370) that would repeal a new tax on health insurance premiums included in the Affordable Care Act. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this tax, which starts in 2014 but will be felt by individuals and businesses starting in 2013, will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums, averaging $400 per year."

2006–07 Survey of Wellness Programs at Business Roundtable Member Companies (PDF)

56 pages. Excerpt: Ask any group of chief executive officers (CEOs) to name their companies' greatest asset and they will almost always say, 'Our employees.' As business leaders and as people, CEOs understand the importance of having a qualified, productive and engaged workforce -- so it is no surprise that Business Roundtable's 2006–07 Wellness Survey reveals 'healthier employees' as the number one reason cited by member companies for having a corporate wellness program.

The Business Roundtable's Statement of 'Balancing Needs' Demonstrates the Valid Counter to DOL's ESG Approach

"[T]he Business Roundtable ... position ... properly frames the issues for the ERISA investment fiduciary: prudent assessment of an investment must take into account a broader view than the narrow financial analysis of the books and records of the company, or of current market pricing. Particularly for ERISA fiduciaries, the investment standard is long-term, to provide retirement income. Any valid, long-term analysis has to be able to take into account the social, political, market and scientific trends which will inevitably affect the investment’s value."

Business Roundtable Comments to SEC on Reconsideration of CEO Pay Ratio Rule

"[We] believe the rule should be changed to exclude employees located outside of the United States in determining the median employee. Doing so would create a more consistent common denominator in the many variables that exist in formulating the ratio. In addition, we suggest that non-full time employees be exempt from the rule to provide some protection against distorted results."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to SEC on Implementation of Pay Ratio Rule

"[C]omplying with the CEO pay ratio rule is costly and burdensome for U.S. public companies of all sizes.... [T]his is particularly complicated and costly for a company with employees located in different jurisdictions throughout the world.... Despite the significant compliance costs, the CEO pay ratio fails to provide material information to investors about a company's compensation of its CEO or its employees and will not enhance investors' understanding of a company's compensation practices."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to IRS on Notice 2015-52: Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage

"We are increasingly concerned about the broad interpretation of the 40 percent tax. We ask that you reevaluate the positions taken in both of the proposed guidance documents and instead design the implementation of the tax in a way that does not discourage employers from continuing to innovate, demand marketplace improvements and sponsor plans that promote value in the use of important health care services."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to IRS on ACA's 40 Percent Excise Tax on Health Care Benefits

"The broad application of the 40 percent excise tax means that, over time, the health benefit plans of all major U.S. employers will be subject to the tax. The impact of the eventual tax liability resulting from this provision is staggering and will distort the employer-sponsored health care marketplace, leading to dramatic changes in the benefits offered to employees."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to SEC Opposing Its Proposed Pay Versus Performance Rule

"[T]he prescriptive nature of the proposed rules would add to investor information overload and would lead to a result inconsistent with the objectives set forth by the Senate Banking Committee.... [A] principles-based approach would best serve investors and meet the Committee's and Commission's objectives, and we outline recommendations for taking such an approach [in this letter]."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to EEOC on Wellness Programs

"We strongly urge the EEOC not to undermine the value of these programs.... Under the current regime, private employers must offer programs that are well-designed to achieve the goals established; must offer reasonable alternatives for employees who cannot participate for medical reasons; and must ensure that strong privacy protections are in place. Business Roundtable believes that EEOC should not unnecessarily regulate those employers who are in compliance with the ACA. Rather, EEOC should focus their resources on identifying employers who are not compliant."

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to IRS on Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage

"We strongly believe that the impact of this tax will have broader implications than first anticipated by the Joint Tax Committee (JTC) and have been provided information that as many as 25 percent of employers' plans may be subject to the tax.... [T]he regulatory structure must acknowledge three variables that restrict employers' ability to avoid the tax. First, there are certain mandatory benefit offerings in the law that cannot be avoided. Second, there are geographic and age variations in various employer plans that make avoidance more difficult. Third, employers use and value the flexibility allowed under ERISA to design, offer and administer unique plans to their employee population."