by Joe Hughes | Jan 20, 2025 | Blog, Smart
Introduction Small businesses play a crucial role in the U.S. economy and are frequently regarded as a major contributor to the nation’s financial growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the majority of U.S. businesses have less than five employees. What...
by Joe Hughes | Dec 1, 2024 | Blog, Smart
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for employee benefit plans maintained by private-sector employers. ERISA includes requirements for both retirement plans (for example, 401(k) plans) and welfare...
by Joe Hughes | Oct 1, 2024 | Blog, Smart
Introduction The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for employees of covered employers. The FMLA applies to private employers who employ 50 or more employees in 20 or more...
by Joe Hughes | Sep 15, 2024 | Blog, Smart
To get ready for open enrollment, employers who sponsor group health plans should be aware of compliance changes affecting the design and administration of their health plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2025. These changes include limits that are...
by Joe Hughes | Aug 1, 2024 | Blog, Smart
Group health plans often provide eligible employees with two regular opportunities to elect health coverage—an initial enrollment period when an employee first becomes eligible for coverage and an annual open enrollment period before the start of each plan year. To...
by Joe Hughes | Jun 1, 2024 | Blog, Smart
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) prohibits group health plans and group health insurance issuers from applying any waiting period that exceeds 90 days. This means that, after an individual is determined to be otherwise eligible for coverage under the terms of the plan,...
