Employee Benefits

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Ohio lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 396, a proposal that would create a statewide paid family and medical leave program for Ohio workers. The bipartisan bill would establish an insurance fund providing partial wage replacement benefits for employees, independent contractors, and business owners who take qualifying family or medical leave. If enacted, the proposal would significantly expand leave protections in Ohio beyond the unpaid leave currently available under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), creating new compliance considerations for Ohio employers.

Continue Reading Ohio paid family and medical leave bill would expand benefits beyond FMLA

In February, we reported that the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that could make it easier for small businesses to join together to purchase health insurance. That proposed rule sparked considerable debate on the general merits of association health plans (AHPs), as well as on the nuances of the proposed rule. Some commentators and experts remained skeptical of such arrangements, citing to the history of AHPs being used as a vehicle for fraud. Others were clearly in favor of any rule that might provide small employers with a new avenue to provide health coverage to their employees. And still others were cautiously optimistic, reserving judgment until some of the open issues in the regulations were resolved.

Well, the debate can now begin in earnest, as the DOL has issued the final regulations.
Continue Reading Final association health plan regulations provide opportunity for small employers…maybe