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Guidance and FAQs Available for Download The City of Los Angeles has released FAQs and guidance regarding the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Background The ordinance—generally applicable to (among other entities) employers that are located or doing business in Los Angeles, and that employ 10 or more employees—limits employers’ consideration of applicants’ criminal history. […]

Court Addresses Various Questions The Supreme Court of California has issued an opinion addressing various questions under the state day of rest requirement. Background Under California law, every person employed in any occupation is generally entitled to 1 day’s rest every 7 days. No employer may cause its employees to work more than 6 days […]

Affected Employers Must File IRS Form 720 Effective for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2012, and before October 1, 2019, employers that sponsor certain self-insured health plans are responsible for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees. Fees for plan years that ended in 2016 are due July 31, 2017. How to Pay […]

H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions Not Selected to be Returned U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has completed data entry of all fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in its computer-generated random process, and that it will now begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected. Unselected Petitions and Transfer […]

Templates and Regulatory Guidance Available As a reminder, the U.S. Department of Labor previously released new versions of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) template, instructions, uniform glossary, and related documents that are required for use on or after April 1, 2017. Under the Affordable Care Act, group health plans and health insurance issuers […]

Appropriate Wage Order Must Be Conspicuously Posted The California Department of Industrial Relations has recently updated the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Orders with the 2017-2018 state minimum wages and meal/lodging credit information. Background IWC Wage Orders regulate wages, hours, and working conditions and are numbered by industry or occupation group. In order to determine […]

New Guidance Also Available The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has issued a revised sexual harassment brochure that fulfills an employer’s legal responsibility to provide employees information regarding sexual harassment. Background All employers—regardless of the number of employees—are covered by the harassment provisions of California law. Each employer must distribute a sexual […]

Guidance Affects ACA’s Premium Tax Credit & Individual Mandate Provisions Consistent with prior guidance, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced adjustments to the required contribution percentages that will be used in 2018 to determine whether an individual is eligible for a premium tax credit and an affordability exemption from the individual shared responsibility provisions […]

HSA Contribution Limits and Minimum Deductibles Announced for 2018 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the 2018 inflation-adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as determined under the Internal Revenue Code. Annual Contribution Limitation For calendar year 2018, the annual limitation on HSA deductions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high deductible […]

Q&As Available on Notice Requirement Employers subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)–generally those with 15 or more employees–that offer a wellness program that collects employee health information are reminded that they must provide a new notice to employees as of the first day of the plan year that begins on or after January […]