Sponsors of group health plans should pay attention to a number of significant reforms to group health coverage that start as early as this month. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ('Affordable Care Act') mandates certain consumer protections in health plans, effective for plan years that start on or after September 23, 2010, which is six months from enactment of the Affordable Care Act. For calendar year plans, these changes are effective January 1, 2011.

 

New employee orientation (also called on-boarding) is the process employers have created to introduce new employees to management, staff and their new workplace environment. The goal is to familiarize your new employee with your club and create a positive first impression. Employee orientation is also designed for employees who are promoted within your company and need a similar type of program.

 

Every employer covered by the FLSA must keep certain records for each covered, nonexempt worker. Employers must keep records on wages, hours, and other information as set forth in the Department of Labor's regulations. Most of this data is the type that employers generally maintain in ordinary business practice.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a Fact Sheet on the new break time requirement for nursing mothers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Effective since March 23, 2010, the date the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, employers are required to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.

 

The IRS has invited public comment on how to most effectively carry out a law change that, starting in 2012, will require businesses to report a wider range of payments to contractors, vendors and others, usually on Form 1099. These comments will help the IRS issue guidance that implements this provision in a manner that minimizes burden and avoids duplicate reporting.

 

The U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS) have released interim procedures and related Model Notices for claims, appeals and reviews under the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act sets standards for plans and issuers regarding both internal claims and appeals and external review.

 

If you just want to kick the tires and see what your options are, ClubPay is offering a complimentary, no pressure, no hassle set of webinars in September. This will give you insight into our two most popular club management solutions - ClubPay and ClubTime. ClubTime is an integrated labor management and time keeping solution and ClubPay is our full-service outsource payroll solution.

 

You can register for the webinars on our website at Attend a Webinar