Health and Welfare Benefits

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Minnesota Employers operating in the East Metro need to be aware of the impending deadlines in the St. Paul Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance (“ESST”) which requires employers with St. Paul-based employees to provide paid sick leave and safe time to those employees. For employers with 24 or more full or part-time St. Paul…

On October 21, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service announced the 2016 cost-of-living adjusted amounts for certain retirement plan and fringe benefit limitations. Earlier in 2015, the Internal Revenue Service announced the 2016 cost-of-living adjustments affecting health savings accounts and high deductible health plans, and on October 15, 2015, the Social Security Administration announced the…

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently published a decision holding that the accommodation process for religious organizations regarding the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may itself violate religious freedom. The decision contributes to a growing split among federal courts, which will likely end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In Sharpe …

On April 20, 2015, the EEOC issued a notice of proposed revisions to its regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act concerning employer wellness programs. The new regulations will not become effective until after the notice period ends on June 19, 2015, and a final rule is published. In the meantime, here’s what employers should…

In early February 2015, Anthem, Inc. reported that on January 29, 2015, it had discovered that it was the target of “a very sophisticated external cyber attack.”  Anthem believes the attack happened over the course of several weeks, starting on December 10, 2014.  Accessed information may have included the names, dates of birth,…

A leading group of chief executives is threatening political repercussions for the EEOC’s recent challenge to employer wellness programs.
The EEOC has several pending lawsuits challenging aspects of employer wellness programs. A federal court in Minnesota recently denied the EEOC’s motion for a preliminary injunction against surcharges imposed by Honeywell for employees who do not…

The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota recently denied a motion for a preliminary injunction against aspects of Honeywell’s wellness program.
In EEOC v. Honeywell International, Inc., the EEOC challenged certain surcharges that Honeywell imposes on employees who participate in the Company’s High Deductible Health Plan and do not participate in a…

On October 23, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service announced the 2015 cost-of-living adjusted amounts for certain retirement plan limitations. Earlier in 2014, the Internal Revenue Service announced the 2015 cost-of-living adjustments affecting health savings accounts and high deductible health plans, and on October 22, 2014, the Social Security Administration announced the 2015 cost-of-living adjustments…

On the last day of its term, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., No. 13-354 (June 30, 2014) – a highly contentious case about whether closely-held for-profit corporations can be required to provide insurance coverage for certain contraceptives.  Here’s a high-level overview of what employers should know…