Articles by Editorial Staff

I-9 Compliance Flexibilities Extension

Form I-9 Compliance Deadline Extended

May 28, 2021
41 view(s)
Recently, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an additional extension to Form I-9 compliance. The May 27 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 August 31st, 2021. Backg...
IRS COBRA Tax Breaks

IRS Issues New COBRA Coverage Guidance

May 25, 2021
46 view(s)
On May 18th, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued COBRA continuation health coverage guidance relating to tax breaks. Accordingly, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) provides tax credits involving continuation health coverage. Specifically, under Notice 2021-31, the IRS provides guidance for employers, plan administrators, and health insurers. The Notice includes information ...
Joint Visa Rule

Federal Agencies Jointly Issue Worker H-2B Visa Rule

May 25, 2021
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The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS) published a joint temporary final worker H-2B Visa rule. Released on May 21st, 2021, overall, the Rule makes an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker Visas available. The Visas will be available only during fiscal year 2021 to employers who would suffer irreparable harm without other workers. Comparatively, of th...
May 25, 2021
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May 25th, 2021: Recent State Regulatory Activity

Our research and regulatory monitoring team frequently tracks labor law developments from all 50 states. The following list of findings from this week’s state legislation research sweep addresses May 2021 regulatory activity in California, Michigan, and Montana. Most importantly, as new information becomes available, Personnel Concepts will continue to provide regulatory updates to affected cus...
E-Verify Destruction Date June 2021

E-Verify Record Destruction Date Extended to June 2021

May 24, 2021
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 19 an extension to the E-Verify record destruction date. Released on the E-Verify website, the alert delays the previously announced destruction date for records more than 10 years old. Accordingly, on June 4th, 2021, E-Verify employment records dated on or before December 31st, 2010, will no longer be available. Before the May ann...
CDC Vaccinated Guidelines

CDC Issues Updated Public Health Guidelines for Vaccinated Individuals

May 18, 2021
38 view(s)
As the number receiving COVID-19 vaccines grows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated public health guidelines. Specifically, the May 16 guidelines address updated recommendations that fully vaccinated individuals can follow as it relates to daily activities. The latest CDC release follows April’s guidance on what fully vaccinated individuals should do when out ...
May 18, 2021
33 view(s)

May 18th, 2021: Recent State Regulatory Activity

Our research and regulatory monitoring team frequently tracks labor law developments from all 50 states. The following list of findings from this week’s state legislation research sweep addresses May 2021 regulatory activity in the states of Alabama, Ohio, and Oregon.  Most importantly, as new information becomes available, Personnel Concepts will continue to provide regulatory updates to affec...
HHS ACA Sex Discrimination

HHS: Agency to Enforce Updated Sex Discrimination Prohibitions

May 17, 2021
47 view(s)
On May 10th, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified the agency’s stance on sex discrimination prohibitions. Specifically, the notification that was released deals with discrimination “on the basis of sex” under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Namely, the ACA will again include gender identity and transgender patient protections from discrimination by covered entities. ...
Prevailing Wage Rule Delayed

DOL Delays Prevailing Wage Rule

May 17, 2021
35 view(s)
Recently, the Labor Department (DOL) has announced an expected Prevailing Wage Rule delay. Consequently, the DOL has pushed back the original effective date of the Final Rule an additional 18 months. The original Final Rule focused on calculating prevailing wages of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers. The news release follows the Department of Labor's (DOL's) announcement that it was ...
May 11, 2021
37 view(s)

Labor Department Withdraws Independent Contractor Rule

On May 5th, 2021, the U.S. Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced the withdrawal of the impending  Independent Contractor Rule. Namely, the final rule clarified the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). On March 4th, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance on postponing the effective date until May 7th, 2021. Additional...