U.S. Employment Law and Regulations 2 Flashcards
Equal Pay Act (EPA)
An amendment to the FLSA, prohibits unequal pay for equal or substantially equal work performed by men and women
Equal Pay Act Definitions
Skills
Effort
Responsibility
Working Conditions
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Establish uniform minimum standards to ensure that employee retirement plans are set up and maintained in a fair and financially sound manner
ERISA requires that employers comply with a number of requirements in operating their plans; several are noted here:
Fiduciary Duties: the plan fiduciaries must follow the prudent person rule–the fiduciary cannot take more risks than a prudent expert investor would.
Eligibility Requirements: the minimum requirements are attainment of age 21 and completion of 12 months of service
Vesting Requirements: cliff–after 3 years, graded–get a little year 1, more year 2, and the rest year 3
Communication Requirements: prepare and distribute summary plan descriptions
Reporting Requirements: annual report 5500 must be filed w IRS and made available to participants
Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX)
Requires that all publicly held companies establish internal controls and procedures for financial reporting to reduce the possibility of corporate fraud
*Must provide 30 day notice but no more than 60 days of a blackout period–must be in writing but could be electronic
SOX Whisteblower Protection
SOX prohibits publicly traded companies from taking any adverse employment action against employees because of protected whistleblowing activities
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Overturned the OG Ledbetter of 2007 court decision–Under the act, the statute of limitations resets as the employer issues each allegedly discriminatory paycheck
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconcilitation Act (COBRA)
Provides individuals the opportunity to continue receiving health care coverage under the employers group health plan at the individual expense.
- Employer can charge a 2% fee
- Employers of 20+ EEs who they provide benefits for
COBRA Coverage (Timing)
Termination for gross misconduct=0m
Termination for any reason other then gross mis=18m
Reduction in hrs=18m
EE is disabled at the time of reduction of hrs=29m
Divorce or death of employed spouse=36m
Dependent child loses eligibility status=36m
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Requires employers to allow EEs to take time off for certain caregiving, medical, military, and family needs.
- Covers all private sector employers with 50+ EEs for 20 or more workweeks in the current or preceding year.
- To be eligible, EE must have worked 12 months, for 1250 hours AND at a site within 75 miles of which 50+ EE work
Reasons FMLA allows EEs to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave:
- Care of child
- Care of the EEs immediate family
- Serious health condition
- Childbirth
- Care for service member
* You can find answers on DOL website for: intermittent, definition of spouse, biological parents, medical certification requirements, etc
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Enacted to protect the employment, reemployment, and retention rights of persons who voluntarily or involuntarily serve or have served the uniformed services
*Applied to virtually all employers, both public and private, regardless of size
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
Virtually all citizens and legal residents of the US have been required to have minimum essential health coverage. (until a child reaches 26)
*Requires employers with more than 50 FT EEs to offer minimum health coverage that meets specifications or pay a penalty of $2k per FT EE per year.
Cadillac Plan
Places an exise tax on high value health plans–where the value of family coverage and coverage for retirees and employees in high risk jobs exceeds specified limits.
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Established the first national policy for workplace safety and health–requires employers to provide safe and healthful working conditions for employees
*Covers all workers in the country, except for small family farms worked on only family members