South Salt Lake City, Utah – GBS Benefits, a member of the Leavitt Group and an innovator in the employee benefits sector, is excited to announce the strategic acquisition of 208benefits, a respected provider of employee benefits services based in Boise and McCall, Idaho. This expansion signifies GBS Benefits’ dedication to extending its comprehensive service…
Dobbs Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade Frequently Asked Questions on Impact to Group Health Plans On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in the opinion Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Dobbs eliminates a woman’s federal constitutional right to abortion and…
The job market is still dealing with the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers are taking stock of their circumstances and considering which employment perks matter the most. Specifically, employees are increasingly more concerned about their physical and mental health, financial security and work-life balance than before the pandemic. Many employers have responded by enhancing…
“We are sounding an alarm regarding the dangers tied to blind reliance on AI and other technologies that we are seeing increasingly used by employers.” – Kristen Clarke, DOJ assistant attorney general, during a press call EEOC and DOJ Issue Guidance on the ADA and the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Algorithms, and Software…
On April 29, 2022, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2022-24 to provide the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2023. The IRS is required to publish these limits by June 1 of each year. These limits include: The maximum HSA contribution limit; The minimum deductible amount for…
There are a number of new health cost transparency obligations imposed upon employers that offer group health plans to employees. Although these rules have been overshadowed by COVID-19, these provisions will have a significant impact on health plans, similar to the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although employers may engage third parties to…
Recent drug test rates show that positive workforce tests from 2021 climbed to the highest level since 2001, according to a new analysis released by Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of pre-employment and post-accident drug and alcohol testing. Quest Diagnostics’ study was based on a total of more than 11 million de-identified urine, hair, and…
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When the world is in turmoil, it often has a ripple effect on the workplace. Employees may feel anxious or stressed about events happening outside of work that impact their personal lives. HR teams should be prepared to support employees affected by international crises. Think about how employees’ backgrounds differ When providing support for employees…
Medical bills are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to read. Charges from clinics and hospitals tend to be lumped together instead of itemized – making it very difficult to see exactly what you are paying for. With many medical facilities going paperless, many patients are not even receiving the statements regarding the amount the insurer…
The cost of healthcare is continuously increasing, and 2022 may be no exception. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, medical expenses are expected to grow by 6.5% in the new year. Employer health plan premiums are expected to rise more than 5% in 2022, according to a Willis Towers Watson poll. Employers will want to strategize methods to…
Human resources (HR) departments are given more responsibility each year, often with budgets that don’t match these changes. As a result, HR teams must constantly innovate and stay on top of trends to remain competitive in today’s labor market. 1. The hybrid workplace is here to stay After the last 18 months, it seems that…
Washington State Employer Update 5 Employer Steps in Response to Washington Legislature Decision on the WA CARES Act and Premiums Governor Jay Inslee signed into law on January 26 the bills swiftly pushed through the legislature that delay the collection of employee premiums under the WA CARES Act until July 1, 2023. What are the five…
Originally published by Fisher Phillips. The GBS & Leavitt Group preferred partner for employment law. Republished with permission. With many current COVID-19 safety protocols dependent on vaccination status, verification and vaccine mandates continue to raise unique confidentiality and privacy considerations for employers. Here are some important points to keep in mind when tracking, collecting, or…
OSHA’s Mandate-or-Test Emergency Rule Gets Sent to White House for Final Review: How Employers with 100+ Employees Can Avoid Vaccine Confusion The Department of Labor (DOL) took the next step in advancing President Biden’s vaccine mandate-or-test emergency rule (for large employers with 100+ employees) sending the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to the White House’s regulatory office. Here…