Articles by Editorial Staff

The DOL Announced Plans to Rescind Two Recent Final Rules

Department of Labor Proposes to Rescind Two Recent Final Rules

March 15, 2021

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On March 11th, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced proposals to rescind two recent final rules. These are the Independent Contractor and Joint Employer Rules. According to the DOL, these recent final rules significantly weaken protections afforded to workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To make changes to the recent final rules, the DOL released Notices for Proposed...

Comment Period Extended for Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes

March 12, 2021

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The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced a comment period extension for proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the OCR extended the public comment period another 45 days. The comment period allows for a public review of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This NPRM would modify the Health Insurance Portability and Ac...

CDC Issues New Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

CDC Issues Guidance for Fully Vaccinated

March 9, 2021

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On March 8th, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This release follows recent CDC guidance on masks, vaccines, and quarantines. CDC Definition of Fully Vaccinated According to the CDC, an individual becomes “fully vaccinated” when the following has occurred: 2 weeks has passed after their second d...

Federal Contractor Audit Scheduling List Amended for Fiscal Year 2020

March 5, 2021

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On March 2nd, 2021, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) amended its Fiscal Year 2020 audit scheduling list. Known as the Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL), the list identifies specific contractors who will be receiving audit scheduling letters. Before the recent amendment, the CSAL included 200 construction contractors and 2,200 supply and service contractors...

March 4, 2021

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UPDATED: Independent Contractor Final Rule Effective Date Delayed

Updated March 4th, 2021 – (Originally Posted February 16th, 2021) The U.S. Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has issued a delay to the effective date of the Independent Contractor Final Rule. Namely, the rule clarifies 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 postponi...

Department of Labor Clarifies Benefit Plan Deadlines During COVID-19

March 2, 2021

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In late February, the Department of Labor’s (DOL's) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued Notice 2021-01 regarding benefit plan deadlines. Specifically, the notice provides guidance on the duration of COVID-19-related deadline extensions first provided by the EBSA back in 2020. That relief was part of Notice 2020-1 and a Joint Notice provided by the DOL, Treasury Department, a...

Fiscal Year 2020 Enforcement Data Released by EEOC

March 1, 2021

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On February 26th, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released their fiscal year 2020 enforcement data. Specifically, the release includes a breakdown for the 67,448 charges of workplace discrimination received in Fiscal Year 2020. Earlier, the EEOC issued their FY 2020 performance report, announcing a record amount of recovery for workplace discrimination victims. Overvie...

Health FSAs and Dependent Care Assistance

IRS Issues Notice on Health and Dependent Care Assistance Programs

February 26, 2021

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On February 18th, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a new notice covering health and dependent care assistance programs. Under this notice, employee benefit plans offering health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) or dependent care assistance programs have greater flexibilities. These changes occurred under the COVID-related Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2...

Biden Administration Expands PPP Eligibility for Small Businesses

February 23, 2021

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On February 22nd, the White House announced updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) involving PPP eligibility for small businesses. For example, in the new fact sheet (Fact Sheet), the Biden Administration (Administration) outlines a proposal that includes the following: a period of exclusive access to the program for very small businesses; modifying the loan amount calculation...

February 22, 2021

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E-Verify Records Before 2011 to Be Deleted

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the upcoming annual disposal of E-Verify employment records. Released on the E-Verify website, the alert announces the upcoming destruction of records that are more than 10 years old. Accordingly, on May 14th, 2021, E-Verify employment records dated on or before December 31st, 2010, will no longer be available. Recently, the DHS annou...

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Practical articles on HR, Safety, compliance, and people operations—written for real businesses, not legal textbooks.

EPA Aligns Hazardous Chemical Requirements with Latest Hazard Communication Standard

At the end of June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule updating the agency’s current hazardous chemical inventory reporting requirements. Specifically, the rule aligns those requirements with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA’s) Hazard...

EEOC Rescinds Permissible Affirmative Action Guidance

On June 30, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officially rescinded two longstanding documents relating to permissible affirmative action. The documents were part of the EEOC's guidance on affirmative action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

USCIS, E-Verify Issues Updated Temporary Protected Status Guidance for Seven Countries

On June 25th, 2026, the United States Supreme Court (Court) issued a decision in Mullin v. Doe that has ramifications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for some employees. Specifically, the decision allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to move forward with ending...

DOJ Challenges EEOC's Stance on Disparate Impact Claims

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently issued a legal opinion that may signal major changes ahead in federal workplace discrimination enforcement. In a June 9, 2026 memorandum, the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) expressed the opinion that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's...

Department of Labor Issues 2026 Civil Penalty Update: No Adjustments This Year

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