Government Affairs News Archive

Employers Urge Congress to Pass Pension Funding Relief; PBGC Issues Final Rule on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans

May 16, 2012

Agencies Provide Additional Guidance on SBCs and 401(k) Fee Disclosure; House Clears EEOC Appropriations Bill with Several Limiting Amendments

May 15, 2012

OSHA Revises Safety Training Rule for Hazardous Chemical Right-to-Know; Millions of Employers Fail to Claim Healthcare Tax Credit

May 10, 2012

New Law Exempts Some Companies from Shareholder Approval Votes; Video: EEOC Enforcement Guidance of Arrest and Conviction Records

May 9, 2012

Essential Health Benefit Packages Have Employers Wary; Public Service Recognition Week May 6 - 12

May 8, 2012

IRS Issues HSA Limits for 2013; Social Security Begins Issuing Statements Online

May 4, 2012

US Jobless Claims Hit Lowest Level for a Month; Employers Seek FSA Mandate Relief

May 3, 2012

WorldatWork Files Comments on FMLA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; House Committee Approves EEOC Budget Blocking ADEA Rule

May 1, 2012

States Could be in a Bind on Mandate; Global Unemployment Outlook Gloomy

Apr 30, 2012

EEOC Approves Guidance on the Use of Criminal Records; Transgender Workers Now a Protected Class

Apr 26, 2012

Age Discrimination Regulation Takes Effect April 30; White House Threatens Veto to Protect NLRB's Union Election Rule

Apr 24, 2012

Senate Examines Slow Pace of OSHA Rulemaking; Romney's Healthcare Plan May be More Revolutionary than Obama's

Apr 23, 2012

IRS Understaffed for Health Law Tax Enforcement; White House Threatens Budget Veto

Apr 19, 2012

Tax Breaks for Retirement Savings Should Be Simpler; HSA Contribution Limit Expected to Rise in 2013

Apr 18, 2012

IRS Proposes Rule Relating to Health Care Reform Plan Fees; District Court's Ruling May Delay NLRA Posting Requirement

Apr 17, 2012

Advocates Fear Tax-Credit Rule Will Exclude Some From Health-Care Benefit; House Scheduled to Vote on Small Business Tax Cut

Apr 16, 2012

DOL Extends Comment Period on Proposed FMLA Rules; House to Begin Work on Tax Overhaul

Apr 13, 2012

IRS Issues New COBRA Audit Guidelines; Federal Court Limits OSHA's Ability to Issue Citations Past 6-Month Limitations Period

Apr 12, 2012

Health-Care Law Will Add $340 Billion to Defecit; Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage

Apr 10, 2012

OSHA to Renew Focus on Hazards in Nursing and Residential Care Facilities; Federal Funds to Train the Jobless Are Drying Up

Apr 9, 2012

Unemployment Drops in March as Private Sector Adds Jobs; PBGC Director Discusses New Retirement Plan Options

Apr 6, 2012

Pres. Obama Signs JOBS Act; EEOC Clarifies 'Reasonable Factors Other than Age'

Apr 5, 2012

Looking Ahead, Republicans Examine Options in Health Care Fight; Bill Would Extend Benefits to Same-Sex Partners

Apr 4, 2012

New Spotlight on State Responses to Health-Care Law; Euro Unemployment Spikes to Record 10.8%

Apr 2, 2012

Supreme Court Divided on Individual Mandate; States Stick to Health Law Strategies

Mar 30, 2012

Congress May Act Soon on Small Business Tax Breaks; Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Individual Mandate

Mar 28, 2012

Senate Passes JOBS Act, House to Begin Debate; Day One of Supreme Court PPACA Case

Mar 27, 2012

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Timing of Health Care Ruling; House Leaders Prep New GOP Plan

Mar 26, 2012

Panelists, Lawmakers Urge Further Review of Companionship Rule; Worker Rights Get Promotional Drive

Mar 23, 2012

Justices Limit Suits Filed Over Family Leave Act Violations; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Preventative Services for Women

Mar 22, 2012

DOL Not Deterred in Fiduciary Rule Proposal; Early Retiree Health Care Plan Sponsors Have to Dec. 31, 2014 to Use ERRP Funds

Mar 21, 2012

DOL Releases FAQs on the Summary of Benefits and Coverage; Bill Would Change Burden of Proof, Causation Standards in ADEA, ADA Cases

Mar 20, 2012

HHS Publishes Final Rule on Health Insurance Exchanges; Effects of the ACA on Employment-Based Health Insurance

Mar 16, 2012

Senate Passes Highway Bill with Benefits Provisions; OPM Ends Flexible-Schedules Experiment

Mar 15, 2012

IRS Releases FAQ Guidance Relating to Health Care Reform; Health Exchanges Must Notify Employers About Employees Eligible for Subsidies

Mar 14, 2012

Backup Plans if Individual Mandate is Struck Down; Health Care Exchange Rules to Be Set

Mar 12, 2012

Economy Adds 227K, but Jobless Rate Holds Steady; House Passes Jobs Bill with Wide Bipartisan Margins

Mar 9, 2012

Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Small Business and Retirement Plans; Consumer Groups Oppose Delay in Benefits Summaries

Mar 8, 2012

Senate Bill Targets Worker Misclassification; SEC Chairman Pitches Budget Boost to Congress

Mar 7, 2012

EEOC Issues Revised Guidance on Veterans; Employment; OK Bills Would Allow Employers to Opt Out of Workers' Comp System

Feb 29, 2012

Prospect for Boost in Employee Mass Transit Tax Break Dims; EEOC Approves Strategic Plan For Fiscal Years 2012-2016

Feb 24, 2012

IRS Updates W2 Reporting Guidance Under Health-Care Reform Law; Payroll Tax Cuts Signed Into Law

Feb 23, 2012

New German Family Care Leave Law in Effect; EU Institutes Single-Permit Directive for Non-EU Workers

Feb 22, 2012

Congress Seals the Deal, Sends Payroll Tax Bill to Obama; EEOC Hearing Examines Discrimination Against Pregnant Women and Caregivers

Feb 20, 2012

Conferees Sign Payroll Tax Deal; SCOTUS Preview Part 2: Analyzing The Likely High Court Arguments On The Health Law

Feb 17, 2012

House Republican Leaders Agree to Payroll Tax Holiday Extension Without Offsets; What Makes Executive Compensation Different From Other Types of Compensation?

Feb 14, 2012

Weekend Payroll Tax Cut Talks Fail; Top Conferees Meeting in Private While Terms of Tax Cut Deal Shift.jsp

Feb 13, 2012

Plant Workers Sue Over 'Donning and Doffing'; House Skips Town as Tax Deadline Looms

Feb 10, 2012

FLSA Laws Who's Exempt?; D.C. Area Dems Blast GOP Pension-Cut Plan

Feb 9, 2012

DOL Publishes Final Ree Disclosure Regulations; GOP Hopefuls Split Over Minimum Wage Issue

Feb 8, 2012

Final Rule on Recordkeeping Requirements to GINA Released; Payroll Tax Cut Extension a Mess in the Making

Feb 7, 2012

Payroll Tax Cuts Splinter GOP; Constitutional Fairy Tales and the Affordable Care Act

Feb 6, 2012

US Jobless Rate Falls to 3-Year Low; Retaliation Leads the Way in Workplace Discrimination

Feb 3, 2012

DOL Announces Equal Pay Application Competition; Payroll Tax Cut Conferees Avoiding Sticky Issues

Feb 2, 2012

6 Big Canada Pension Plan Changes Arrive in 2012; Public Sector Pension Reforms 'Won't Make Long-Term Savings'

Jan 31, 2012

Retaliation Charges Top EEOC Fiscal 2011 Filings; Agencies Issue Information on 2012 Regulatory Priorities

Jan 30, 2012

Dems Embrace New Strategy on Taxes; House GOP Waits for Supreme Court

Jan 27, 2012

President's Budget Delayed Until Feb. 13; UK Government Faces Criticism Over Jobs Program

Jan 24, 2012

Tax Reform to Take Back Seat in State of the Union; Employer Must Pay Workers' Comp for Concurrent Job

Jan 23, 2012

Business Groups Claim CEO Pay Ratio Mandate 'Unnecessary'; Employers Skeptical of SOTU Promises

Jan 19, 2012

Jobless Benefit Claims Fall; House Panel Moves to Repeal CLASS Act

Jan 19, 2012

Payroll Tax Cut Deal May Come Faster Than Expected; CA Single-Payer Bill Before Senate Committee

Jan 17, 2012

Business Groups Push Congress to Extend Tax Breaks; HHS Says Planned Insurance Rate Hikes Unreasonable

Jan 16, 2012

SEC Issues Regulatory Timeline for Dodd-Frank; Justice Department Rules Recess Appointments are Constitutional

Jan 13, 2012

Supreme Court Rules on Ministerial Exemption to Discrimination Laws; Obama Calls for Tax Breaks for Insourcing

Jan 12, 2012

IRS Releases Further W2 Reporting Guidance; US DOL Announces Winners of Mobile App Contest

Jan 9, 2012

Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.5%; Recess Appointments Could Trigger Test Case

Jan 6, 2012

Minimum Wage Increases in Eight States; IRS Extends 2011 Tax Filing Deadline

Jan 5, 2012

Retirement Plan Changes in 2012; Romney Edges Win in Iowa Caucus

Jan 4, 2012

Senate Republican Tax Cut Conferees Named; Employment Predicted to Have Accelerated in Dec.

Jan 3, 2012

Congressional Fall Out From Tax Deal Continues; Growing Wealth Widens; Top 10 Political Blunders!

Dec 28, 2011

House Republicans Face Pressure on Extension of Tax Cut; OECD Releases Best Practices on Pensions' Use of Alternative Investments

Dec 22, 2011

Supreme Court Sets Argument Schedule for Health Care Reform; Cuts for the Already Retired

Dec 20, 2011

Concern Growing Over Deadlines for Health-Care Exchanges; First Crack at Essential Health Benefit Guidance Draws No Backlash

Dec 19, 2011

House to Return Next Week After Passing Short-Term Stopgap; Legislative Agencies Feel Pinch in Final FY12 Appropriations Bill

Dec 16, 2011

OFCCP Proposed New Rules for Federal Contractors on Disability Hiring; Obama Proposed Overtime Initiative

Dec 15, 2011

HHS Announces Beginning of End of ERRP Funding; Short Term Spending Bill Unlikely

Dec 14, 2011

GOP Payroll Tax Cut Package Vote Set for Tuesday; GOP Eyes Health Funds for Tax Cut

Dec 13, 2011

John Boehner's Last Stand on Payroll Tax Cut Extension; Labor Department Asks Contractors to Step Up Hiring of Disabled Workers

Dec 9, 2011

Congress Close on Final Spending Deal; Speaker Boehner in Tax Vise

Dec 8, 2011

Democrats, GOP Inch Closer to a Tax Deal; Final Government Shutdown Fight Rings Out the Old Year

Dec 6, 2011

Payroll Tax Cut: It's About Who Pays; HHS Unveils Final Medical Loss Ratio Rule

Dec 5, 2011

Public Policy workspan Column Changes Name; Payroll Tax Cut Proposals From Both Parties Fail in Senate

Dec 2, 2011

More States Taking Federal Funds for Insurance Exchanges; Ryan Teams Up with Van Hollen on Budget Bill

Dec 1, 2011

Summary of Benefits and Coverage Report Requirements Delayed; House Moves to Repeal CLASS Act

Nov 30, 2011

States Squirm Over Health Exchanges; Obama Administration Rejects Republican States' Health Law Waiver Requests

Nov 29, 2011

House's Next Move on Payroll Tax Unclear; PBGC Boosts Maximum Benefit in 2012

Nov 28, 2011

Health Programs Could Face Cuts OPM Provides Workforce Restructuring Guidance

Nov 23, 2011

Supercommittee Failure Doesn't Worry Agency Officials Yet; Obama Ramps Up Push for Payroll Tax Extension

Nov 22, 2011

Supercommittee Expected to Announce Failure Senator Targets Sale of Pension Income

Nov 21, 2011

House Approves Compromise Appropriations Bill Survey to Look at Early Retiree Reinsurance Program

Nov 18, 2011

TSP Staff Gears Up to Launch Roth Option; Supercommittee Avoids Health Care Reform

Nov 17, 2011

Speaker Boehner Calls Deficit Plan a 'Fair Offer'; PBGC Deficit Hits $26 Billion

Nov 16, 2011

Spending Compromise Reached to Avoid Shutdown Obama Administration Boosts Health Care Workforce

Nov 15, 2011

Supreme Court to Hear Health Care-Reform Challenge; Deficit Panel Seeks to Defer Details on Raising Taxes

Nov 14, 2011

Groups Happy Dem Offer has No Social Security Cuts; Senate Passes Veterans Jobs Bill

Nov 11, 2011

Supercommittee Members Huddle Senate Set to Pass Veterans Tax Credit

Nov 10, 2011

DC Appeals Court Upholds Health-Care Law; Hearing to be Held on Executive Compensation at Government Mortgage Lenders

Nov 9, 2011

Board Advises Equal Treat of Teleworkers Wall Street Bonuses to See Decline

Nov 8, 2011

Lawmakers Ask Supercommittee to Not Tax Employer Health Plans; Recession Over, Employment-Based Health Coverage Still Down

Nov 7, 2011

Wellness Programs Adapted for Workers' Comp; Employee Facebook Complaints Protected by NLRA

Nov 4, 2011

Health Insurer Rebate Exemptions Would Cost Consumers; Young Adults Hit Hard by Loss of Employer Sponsored Healthcare Coverage

Nov 3, 2011

Governors Unilaterally Implementing Health Care Reform Senate Prepares For Postal Service Compromise

Nov 2, 2011

Bill Looks To Slash Federal Workforce Early Retiree Health Insurance Fund Drying Up

Nov 1, 2011

Tax Code Reform Less Likely From Debt Panel Companies Help Their Workers Tackle Obesity

Oct 31, 2011

IRS Sets 2012 Benefits Limits Heightened Awareness of Benefits Plays Role in Employee Experience

Oct 27, 2011

Leaders Intervene With Debt Panel Gauging Cost Benefits When Hiring Disabled Workers

Oct 26, 2011

Health Care Premiums Deductibles Keep Rising Fears of Another Credit Downgrade Loom

Oct 25, 2011

Tax Law Could Hinder Quick Supreme Court Decision on Health Care; Jobs Plan Stalled, Obama Tries New Economic Drive

Oct 24, 2011

Report shows employees lose coverage as unemployment rises; Most employers have restored 401(k) match

Oct 21, 2011

Initial Jobless Claims Decline; Deficit Supercommittee Shows Signs of Life.html

Oct 20, 2011

WorldatWork Briefs Congress on Men and Work Life Conflict; Higher Medicare Premiums Will Undermine Social Security COLA

Oct 19, 2011

Deadline Looms for Congressional Decision on Unemployment Benefits The Young are Happy at Work.html

Oct 17, 2011

Whose Jobs Are at Risk in Free Trade; Groups Push for Business-Friendly Tax Reform

Oct 13, 2011

Repatriation Tax Holiday Failed to Create Jobs; Growing Businesses Cut Payrolls

Oct 12, 2011

Poll Shows 90% of College Grads Fully Employed; IOM Report Points to Premium Targets

Oct 11, 2011

New Tool Sheds Light on Rate Hike Requests; Recession Officially Over

Oct 10, 2011

IOM Issues Recommendations on Essential Health Benefits; Unemployment Holds Steady at 9.1%

Oct 7, 2011

Geither Pressed for Dodd-Frank Roadmap; Supreme Court Debates Ministerial Exemption

Oct 6, 2011

ADP Report Finds Economy Added 91K in September; Hope Rising, Stores Hire for Holidays

Oct 5, 2011

Social Security Administration Budget Cuts; Senate GOP to Force Vote on Jobs Bill

Oct 4, 2011

Furloughed FAA Employees to Receive Back Pay; CDC Awards $9M for Workplace Health

Oct 3, 2011

Republicans Target Health, Education for Cuts; Dems Want Probe of Justice Thomas as Health Law Ruling Looms

Sep 30, 2011

Health Overhaul Heads to Justices; Businesses Lower Expectations Amid Political Drama

Sep 29, 2011

Employers' Health-Care Premiums Jump; Benefits Tax Hits Businesses Twice

Sep 28, 2011

Recession Altered Jobless Map; White House Won't Seek to Delay Healthcare Review

Sep 27, 2011

Fewer People Applied for Unemployment Benefits Last Year; Dead Federal Retirees Paid $120M Yearly

Sep 23, 2011

IRS Gives Employers a Break on Payrolls; Greece Cuts Wages, Pensions

Sep 22, 2011

Employers Increasingly Trimming Or Cutting Disability Benefits

Sep 20, 2011

Groups urge Obama not to target federal pay and benefits; Obama's debt-reduction plan: $3 trillion in savings half from tax revenue

Sep 19, 2011

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Jumps Jobless Claims Highest in Three Months.html

Sep 16, 2011

Renewed Push to Repeal Employer Mandate in PPACA; House to Vote on NLRB Bill

Sep 15, 2011

DOL Clarifies Electronic Disclosure Under New Rules; Jobs Bill Would Tax Health Benefits for Wealthy

Sep 14, 2011

Economists Lower Expectiations; Jobs Bill Would Ban Discrimination Against the Jobless

Sep 13, 2011

States Lag in Implementing Health Exchanges; VA Court Upholds Health Reform Law

Sep 12, 2011

Unemployment Claims Jump to 414k; Federal Hiring Expected to Decline in 2012

Sep 8, 2011

SEC Won't Fight Proxy Ruling; Many Slip From Middle Class

Sep 7, 2011

Many Firms Unprepared for a Disaster; RI Considering Radical Moves with Pension Liabilities

Sep 6, 2011

Economy Adds Zero Jobs in August; Most American Believe This is a Recession

Sep 2, 2011

House Considers Repeal of "Grandfathered Plan" Rules; GOP Pres. Candidate Jon Huntsman Proposed Eliminating Health Plan Tax Breaks

Sep 1, 2011

GAO: Health Care Reform Leading to Lower Fees, Fewer Choices; NLRB Leader Responds to Critics

Aug 30, 2011

Small Businesses Continue to Drop Health Coverage; White House Sends Congress List of Expensive Regulations

Aug 29, 2011

New Data on COBRA and the Unemployed; Labor to Ditch Democrats

Aug 26, 2011

Verizon Dispute Propels Jobless Claims; Telework Smoothes Washington Commute After Earthquake

Aug 25, 2011

401(k)s Withstand Stock Market Swings; White House Plans to Trim Regulations

Aug 24, 2011

Advocates Launch Push Against Tax on Health Plans; Washington Eliminating Red Tape

Aug 23, 2011

Republican Supercommittee Member Promises No Entitlement Cuts; Payroll Jobs Up in 31 States, Down in 19

Aug 19, 2011

New Regulations Announced Regarding Summaries of Coverage; Survey Shows Employers Shifting Health Care Costs to Workers

Aug 18, 2011

Verizon Steps Up Labor Fight; Pres. Obama to Issue Jobs Proposal

Aug 17, 2011

IRS Announces New Affordability Test for Health Care Reform; Treasury Repays Pension Benefits

Aug 16, 2011

Second Appeals Court Ruling Issued on PPACA; President Calls for Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Aug 15, 2011

COBRA Subsidies End in August; New Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Survey

Aug 12, 2011

GOP Quiet on New PPACA Rules; Productivity Drops for Second Straight Quarter

Aug 9, 2011

Guidance Needed on Benefit Decisions; OSHA Reviewing Whistleblower Program

Aug 8, 2011

New Guidelines on Women's Preventative Care Under PPACA Released

Aug 5, 2011

US Economy Adds 117k Jobs in July Despite Forecasts

Aug 5, 2011

FAA Re-authorization Bill Heads to President

Aug 5, 2011

SEC Delays Implementation of Certain Dodd Frank Rules

Aug 4, 2011

Congress and President Obama Agree on New Debt and Deficit Reduction Package

Aug 3, 2011

Bills Aim to Repeal Portions of Health Care Reform

Aug 1, 2011

UK Begins Consulting on Automatic Enrollment Regulations

Jul 29, 2011

House Examines Impact of PPACA on Employer Sponsored Insurance

Jul 28, 2011

Congress Examines Fiduciary Definition Regulations

Jul 26, 2011

Global Employment Cases Impact Total Rewards

Jul 25, 2011

Department of Labor Announces New Proposed Regulations on Benefits Statements

Jul 22, 2011

Dodd-Frank Turns One Year Old

Jul 20, 2011

As Debt Talks Continue, Federal Workers Feel the Heat

Jul 20, 2011

DOL to Allow Service Providers and Employers More Time to Comply with 401(k) Fee-Disclosure Rules

Jul 18, 2011

Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Addressing FSAs and HSAs

Jul 18, 2011

Hourly Earnings Rise for Second Consecutive Month

Jul 15, 2011

HHS Issues Proposed Rules on Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges

Jul 13, 2011

Spring Regulatory Agenda Released

Jul 12, 2011

Unemployment rises to 9.2%, economy hits a roadblock in June

Jul 7, 2011

Pension Protection Act of 2006 has Mixed Effect on 401(k) Plans

Jul 7, 2011

Federal Workforce Urges Lawmakers to Spare Them in Debt Talks

Jul 7, 2011

Update on the Debt Ceiling Talks

Jul 6, 2011

GAO Releases Recommends Increasing Access to Annuities in DC Plans to Enhance Retirement Security

Jul 5, 2011

Dodd-Frank Reform Law Turns One

Jul 5, 2011

Supreme Court to Hear Case on States Rights Under FMLA

Jul 1, 2011

Sixth Circuit Appeals Court Rules in Health Care Reform Case

Jun 30, 2011

Widespread Strikes in UK Over Public Sector Pensions

Jun 30, 2011

IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on Section 162m

Jun 29, 2011

New Data Gives Picture of Americans Time Use and Wages in 2010

Jun 28, 2011

CT Passes First State Wide Paid Sick Days Law

Jun 28, 2011

Supreme Court Rules in Wal-Mart v Dukes Case

Jun 27, 2011

New Health Care Reform Study Generates Controversy

Jun 27, 2011

White House Chief of Staff Daley Resigns; Will Labor Department's Request Slow Fiduciary Proposal?

Fiduciary Regulation to be Re-Proposed; White House Asks Federal Employees to Increase Retirement Contributions

Economy Adds 91,000 Jobs in August; State and Local Governments Cut 200,000 Workers

Back Pay Legislation Introduced for Furloughed FAA Employees; GOP Questions Healthcare Waivers