Benefit Beat - 2011 through current

Benefit Beat - 2011 through current

In June 2022, Bloomington enacted an Earned Sick and SafeTime Ordinance that will take effect on July 1, 2023.  St. Paul’s EarnedSick and Safe Time Ordinance has been in effect since 2017.
Finalregulations were published on February 24, 2023, requiring asignificant change to when certain tax forms must be filed electronically.
Air ambulance reporting was set to begin March, 2023.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 prohibits gagclauses.  This provision took effect December 27, 2020 and regulationsstill have not been issued.
A recent court of appealsdecision returns to the jury the determination of whether short term USERRAleave is comparable to jury duty and other types of leave.
Two recent pronouncements from the Department of Labor (DOL)provide a bit of guidance as employers try to work through the implications ofa remote or partially remote workforce.
February 07, 2023New Jersey Mini-WARN Act
Many states, New Jersey included, have so-called mini-WARNlaws. 
The New York Health Care Reform law which has been in effectfor many years, funds indigent care and medical provider education.
The circuitous path of the Michigan paid sick leave lawcontinues.
On January 6, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Familyand Medical Leave (DFML) issued regulations addressing how an employer canmaintain a covered individual’s health insurance during a period of paid leave. 
Beginning January 1, 2024,Illinois joins Maine, Nevada and Bernalillo County, New Mexico to require up to40 hours of paid leave that can be used for any purpose. 
On January 20, 2023, San FranciscoMayor London Breed signed the Military Leave Pay Protection Act which requiresprivate employers in San Francisco employing 100 or more employees (regardlessof location) to provide differential paid leave for military reservists calledup to active duty beginning February 19, 2023.
Individuals employed in the state of California may beentitled to temporary benefits for a disability caused by non-occupationalsickness or accident, including pregnancy and related medical conditions.
Failure to abide by certainreporting and disclosure obligations could result in civil penalties beingassessed by the Department of Labor (DOL).
A recent court decision sheds light on the unsettled natureof how Section 1557 should be applied.