On Feb. 26, 2021, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 to provide guidance on the duration of the COVID-19-related relief regarding certain employee benefit plan deadlines during the Outbreak Period.
FAQ: What notices must employers provide to employees regarding the FMLA?
OSHA Issues Prevention Guidance on COVID-19 in the Workplace
Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Preparing HR for Future Health Crises
The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for HR departments in 2020. Suddenly, employees were looking to HR teams for guidance in areas not typically considered their responsibility. This was a turning point for many workplaces—now, HR is expected to understand public health challenges swiftly and manage them efficiently.
Do employers have to maintain an employee’s health benefits on FMLA leave? If the employee doesn’t pay his or her premium, can the employer cancel the employee’s health benefits?
An employer is required to maintain group health coverage for an employee on FMLA leave on the same terms as if the employee had continued to work. An employer may require employees taking FMLA leave to pay their share of health plan premiums, although they cannot be required to pay more than what they would have paid if they had remained actively employed.