Preparing for Open Enrollment With a Hybrid Workforce
With open enrollment season approaching, now’s the time for HR professionals to kick off their planning. Now, many employers find themselves with employees working a hybrid schedule. For employers, it’s essential to make appropriate adjustments to lead a successful open enrollment period.
Read More
Benefits Newsletter: 9/2/21
With Employee Benefits & HR topics regularly in the news, it’s difficult to stay up to date. Our weekly newsletter will help you stay current. Check out this week's edition.
IRS Releases Guidance on Employee Retention Credit
On August 4, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Notice 2021-49 with respect to the 2021 Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Previously, The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA, P.L. 117-2) extended the ERC through December 2021 and revised certain provisions and ERC eligibility. With this recently issued notice, the IRS provides further details related to some important matters businesses needed clarification on. Specific topics addressed include recovery startup businesses; coordination with PPP loans; severely financially distressed employers; and wages paid to majority owners and spouses, in addition to clarifying other areas.
HR & Benefits Compliance Monthly Webinar Series: September-December 2021
Mark your calendars! We are excited to present the third edition (September-December) of our HR & Benefits Compliance monthly webinar series calendar for 2021.
Incorporating the COVID-19 Vaccine into a Wellness Program: Critical Considerations for Employers
On August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – the first such approval of its kind. Along with expanded access to the vaccine, the FDA’s announcement is likely to cause an increase in vaccine mandates in both the private and public sectors. In lieu of a mandate, though, some employers may instead prefer to incentivize employees to get vaccinated.
Reminder: COBRA Subsidy Expiration Date and Notice Requirement
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) requires group health plans subject to COBRA to provide a 100% COBRA premium subsidy and expanded enrollment rights to those who qualify as assistance eligible individuals (“AEIs”) for a period of six months (April 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021). ARPA also imposed new COBRA notice obligations on group health plans. As the subsidy period nears the end, employers and plan administrators are required to provide a subsidy expiration notice (“Notice”) to AEIs, informing them of the impending subsidy termination.
Benefits and Me: August 2021
This month's Benefits and Me discusses surprise billing, shopping around for health care and common health insurance terms.
Where we are
VCG CONSULTANTS
3350 Riverwood Parkway
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 770.863.3600
Fax: 770.863.3666
Contact us
Get our updates by email! CLICK HERE to sign up to receive news & updates from VCG Benefits & HR Advisors.