Sheri Pullen, Best Practices Product Manager, Integrated Disability and Absence Management
On June 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD) issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2020-4. Aimed at DOL WHD investigators, the FAB provides guidance explaining how the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) applies to employees taking leave to care for their child whose summer camp, summer enrichment, or other similar summer program is closed due to COVID-19 related reasons. FFCRA History and ...
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
On June 22, Tennessee Governor Lee signed into law Senate Bill 2520, the Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The law, effective October 1, 2020, requires that Tennessee employers with 15 or more employees make reasonable accommodations for employees with medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Among other accommodations, this includes: Providing … Read More
Sheri Pullen, Best Practices Product Manager, Integrated Disability and Absence Management
With most U.S. states relaxing restrictions and stay-at-home orders, many employees have returned to work or are gearing up to do so soon. Among the hodgepodge of information available from various agencies is a helpful Technical Assistance Questions and Answers webpage published and maintained by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This publication offers … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has released a draft of revised Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) regulations. The regulations provide updates to many topics, including: Use of accrued paid leave and how its use impacts the MA PFML timebank; The definition and application of job protected leave, including leave where … Read More
These days too many of the best minds in software are devoting their energies to winning and retaining your attention. Getting their products noticed in all today’s noise. Our product wants not to be noticed. The things that work best are often those you don’t see. Examples from everyday life include the electricity grid, the … Continued
Megan G. Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have published a Joint Notice, guidance, and FAQ extending certain Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) deadlines due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Joint Notice extends participant filing deadlines for employee benefit plans, including disability plans, group health … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
Virginia Passes Pregnancy Accommodation Law We wrote earlier this week about Virginia’s new law relating to minimum benefits in disability policies for childbirth. With an effective date of July 1, 2020, Virginia has passed a second pregnancy-related law, Senate Bill 712, this time requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s limitations related to … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
On April 9, the Governor of Virginia signed into law Senate Bill 567, mandating that insurers that issue individual or group sickness insurance policies providing short-term disability (“STD”) coverage for childbirth must provide a benefit of at least 12 weeks following birth. The new requirement applies to any policy delivered or issued for delivery in … Read More
Megan Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
New York has enacted a new paid sick and save leave law, effective September 30, and has amended the regulatory definition of serious health condition for New York Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) law to clarify that an employee can receive NY PFL benefits for caring for a family member with COVID-19, effective immediately. New … Continued
Megan G. Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
On April 1st the United States Department of Labor issued temporary, final regulations to support the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), as amended by the CARES Act. April 1st was also the FFCRA effective date, so employees can now begin claiming paid leave for COVID-19-related absences. The regulations cover a lot of ground, providing … Read More
As we all wrestle with the changing dynamic of business during this worldwide pandemic, we at FINEOS remain committed first and foremost to supporting the health, well-being, and safety of all. Our offices in Hong Kong, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States continue to work remotely to ensure social distancing recommendations. … Read More
Sheri Pullen, Best Practices Product Manager, Integrated Disability and Absence Management
Things are moving at warp speed when it comes to information around the COVID-19 pandemic and paid leave laws. It’s important to keep up with not only COVID-19-related changes, but also regular amendments to paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws. Amid all the movement, an amendment to Washington’s PFML law has been making its … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
On March 25, the Governor of New Jersey signed Senate Bill 2304, amending the state’s Paid Sick Leave Act, the (unpaid) Family Leave Act, and the Temporary Disability Benefits and Family Leave Insurance programs to provide expanded benefits as a result of a declared state of emergency and outbreak of a communicable disease. Though the … Read More
Megan G. Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
On Tuesday, March 24 the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it has issued an employer fact sheet, an employee fact sheet, and Questions and Answer guidance to clarify some questions that have arisen in the past few days as carriers, employers, and employees attempt to understand the details of the Families First … Read More
Sheri Pullen, Best Practices Product Manager, Integrated Disability and Absence Management
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD) has announced that they expect to publish Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) regulations in April 2020, but they did not specify the exact date in April. The DOL WHD’s announcement includes an expected date of March 25 to post a model employer notice of the FFCRA. For details and analysis on … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
New York State has enacted an emergency paid sick leave law and amended its Disability Benefits Law (“NY DBL”) and Paid Family Leave law (“NY PFL”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes are effective immediately, as of March 18. The law does not contain a sunset provision. The law requires job-protected, employer-provided paid … Read More
Megan G. Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
Over my career, I’ve considered whether the United States would ever offer paid family and medical or sick leave. In fact, just nine days ago I recently opined on the topic. And certainly, I never thought the federal government would introduce a paid leave bill, pass it, and get the president’s signature in under a … Continued
As the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues to impact many people and business around the globe, I want to explain what FINEOS is doing to protect our employees and our customers while continuing to provide our high levels of service. Our reaction to a crisis of this nature works to reinforce our FINEOS purpose … Continued
Megan Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed technical corrections to H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). The revised bill is a rewrite of the original bill containing the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act. The FFCRA is now on its way to the … Read More
Megan Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
During the early hours of March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, named the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). The FFCRA includes within the bill the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which would be effective 15 days after the President’s signature … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
On March 6, 2020, the Governor of New Mexico passed House Bill 25 amending the New Mexico Human Rights Act. The amendment adds protections for pregnant workers, including the right to a reasonable accommodation. The law goes into effect May 20, 2020. The law requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for an employee or job … Continued
Megan G. Holstein, Esq., SVP Absence and Claims Product
In the wake of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, also known as coronavirus, people are asked to self-quarantine if they are not well, or cancel travel in an effort to contain the outbreak. For many, 32 million U.S. workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is not possible without access to work from home … Continued
I’ve been reflecting on the latest LIMRA Enrollment Technology Strategy Seminar (ETSS). I am struck that while many things change, just as many stay the same. Such is the case of the dynamics surrounding the key area that dictates voluntary benefits success: Enrollment. Enrollment is the foundation that supports the employer voluntary benefits strategy. Further, … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
New Jersey Expands Disability Benefits and Job Restoration to Organ and Bone Marrow Donors. On January 21, 2020, the Governor of New Jersey signed off on Assembly Bill 1449, an amendment to the state’s temporary disability insurance (TDI or TDB) law to make explicit that a disability as the result of an organ or bone … Read More
Lori Welty, Esq., Absence Management Senior Compliance Attorney
Beginning October 2020, the United States’ largest employer, the federal government, is poised to provide paid parental leave to its more than 2 million employees. The provisions, contained within the larger National Defense Authorization Act, have the potential for broader implications in the landscape of employee benefits. Previously passed by the House, Senate Bill 1790 … Read More
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