If not properly drafted, certain policies in your handbook could violate federal, state, and local laws or run counter to best practices. Here are six policies that are potentially problematic along with guidelines to consider instead. Avoid: Overly restrictive sick leave policies. Sick leave ...

The IRS recently issued a proposed regulation that would: Permanently and automatically allow a 30-day extension for furnishing reporting forms to individuals under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); Eliminate transitional good faith relief for inaccurate and incomplete Forms ...

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule establishing limits on the amount of time tipped employees can spend performing work that isn’t “tip-producing work” and still be paid at the reduced cash wage for tipped employees under the Fair Labor ...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it won’t enforce an emergency rule regarding vaccination of healthcare workers while there are injunctions in place that block the implementation of it. The Details: In early November, CMS issued an emergency rule ...

West Hollywood, California has enacted an ordinance that requires employers to provide paid and unpaid leave benefits. Leave benefits become effective on January 1, 2022 for “hotel workers.” The effective date for all other employers is July 1, 2022. Important ...

Background: Allegheny County approved an Ordinance that requires certain employers to provide paid sick leave (PSL). The Ordinance was to take effect 90 days after the county made employer-notice material available through its website. Update: Allegheny County has posted its paid ...

New York has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 2928A) that expands the definition of “family member” under the New York Paid Family Leave (PFL) law to include siblings. The expanded definition takes effect on January 1, 2023. New York has also amended a regulation (NYCRR ...

New York City has amended its Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (Int. 2448-2021) to allow employees to use paid sick time for COVID-19 child vaccinations. The amendments are retroactive to November 2, 2021, and are set to expire on December 31, 2022. The Details: Employers in New York City must ...

New York City has enacted an Order that establishes worker COVID-19 vaccination requirements, creates recordkeeping obligations, and includes a posting requirement. The Order took effect on December 27, 2021. The Details: All private-sector employers in New York City must verify that their ...

Howard County, MD has enacted an ordinance that establishes a minimum wage rate for work performed in the county.  The county’s minimum wage depends on whether the employer is a government employer, large employer, small employer, or paying a tipped employee.  The ...