Articles by Editorial Staff

EBSA Investment Advice Exemption

DOL Releases Investment Advice Exemption Guidance

April 19, 2021
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On April 13th, 2021, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued investment advice exemption guidance. Specifically, the guidance affects retirement investors, employee benefit plans, and investment advice providers. This announcement follows the release of and offers guidance on the EBSA’s “Improving Investment Advice for Workers & Retirees” ex...
ASPIRE Mental Health Initiative

Labor Department Selects Seven States for Mental Health Initiative

April 19, 2021
60 view(s)
On April 14th, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) selected seven states to participate in a mental health initiative. The Advancing State Policy Integration for Recovery and Employment (ASPIRE) initiative would increase employment for individuals with mental health conditions. That is to say; the initiative would align state policy and funding to raise the employment rate of affected individua...
April 16, 2021
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April 16th, 2021: Recent State Regulatory Activity

Personnel Concepts provides timely state regulatory activity and essential employment law information to its customers. So, to offer a complete scope of employer responsibilities, we track labor law developments from all 50 states. Below is a list of findings from this week's state legislation research sweep. Most importantly, as necessary information becomes available, Personnel Concepts will ...
WHD Reverses Trump Policy

Labor Department Reverses Trump Policy on Wage and Hour Violations

April 13, 2021
46 view(s)
On April 9th, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a field assistance bulletin regarding wage and hour violations. Published by the DOL's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the bulletin's policy change will benefit workers and penalize violators. For example, employers who violate the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) wage provisions may face additional liabilities. Violations would include...
COBRA and Mental Health FAQs

DOL Releases Frequently Asked Questions on COBRA and Mental Health

April 12, 2021
49 view(s)
In early April, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released two frequently asked questions (FAQs) documents on recent updates to COBRA and mental heath regulations. Included within the documents is information on updates to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) affecting employers and group health plans.  The ne...
DOL Persuader Reporting Orientation Program

DOL Relaunches Reporting Program

April 9, 2021
28 view(s)
On April 6th, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the relaunch of a previously utilized reporting program. The Persuader Reporting Orientation Program (PROP) is a compliance initiative that informs employers about reporting obligations. Specifically, the initiative addresses reporting obligations under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The PROP initiative was ...
PPP Extension Act of 2021

President Biden Signs PPP Extension Act into Law

April 6, 2021
35 view(s)
On March 30th, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021. The new bill extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application deadline to May 31st, 2021. Previously, the deadline for PPP applications expired on March 31st. The PPP Extension Act also provides an additional 30-day period for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to process pending applications. Ear...
May 2021 State Legislation Updates

April 2021 Update: Recent State Legislation Activity

April 5, 2021
31 view(s)
Personnel Concepts provides timely state legislation and essential employment law information to its customers. So, to offer a complete scope of employer responsibilities, we track labor law developments from all 50 states. Below is a list of findings from this week’s state legislation research sweep. Most importantly, as necessary information becomes available, Personnel Concepts will continue...
NLRB To More Aggressively Enforce NLRA

National Labor Relations Act Will Be More Aggressively Enforced

April 5, 2021
24 view(s)
On March 31st, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) teased possible upcoming changes to National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) enforcement. That is to say, the NLRB’s Acting General Counsel, Peter Sung Ohr, proclaimed that previous boards lacked robust enforcement procedures. As a result, the NLRB did not enforce the NLRA as ardently as it should have been. In a memorandum (memo), the NLRB si...
April I-9 Compliance Extension

Additional I-9 Compliance Extension Announced

April 2, 2021
30 view(s)
On March 31st, 2021, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an additional extension to Form I-9 compliance. This announcement is similar to extensions granted throughout 2020 involving Form I-9 compliance flexibilities during the pandemic. However, due to continued COVID-19 precautions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until May 31st, 2021. Bac...