On Jan. 1, 2027, Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave premium increases to 1.2%, from 1.13%. Employers will pay 29.3% of the paid leave premium; the employee share is 70.7%. Employers may cover some or all of employees’ share. Generally, employers with fewer than 50 employees don’t need to pay the employer share unless they […]
With year-end approaching, payroll teams should review whether the IRS’s optional special accounting rule makes sense for certain taxable noncash fringe benefits. The rule lets employers treat benefits provided during November and December (or a shorter period within those months) as paid in the following year. For example, personal use of a company vehicle in […]
Open enrollment can be a hectic time of year for HR pros and the employees you help. Add open enrollment jargon to the mix, and you can ensure confusion will flourish. Clarifying Open Enrollment Jargon So we’re equipping our readers — and your employees — with a handy jargon cheat sheet to get through benefits […]
Massachusetts recently updated its paid family and medical leave contribution guidance after passing Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2026. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The law shifts employer contributions from medical leave to family leave to mitigate the impact of IRS guidance on PFML benefit taxation. Employers with 25 or more covered […]
Time to update your systems: The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced the 2027 Social Security taxable wage base. Next year’s number will increase to $192,300 – that’s $7,800 more than the current amount of $184,500. So, the intermediate projection in the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report ($190,200) was $2,100 low. The Social Security tax, […]
Choosing benefits isn’t a check-the-box activity for employees anymore. Employees want — and need — benefits that fit their lives. Notice, we didn’t say they need more. They need the right benefits so they can use them and manage them to the fullest. What’s Up in This Episode: Right-Fit Benefits That’s why, in this episode […]
As open enrollment season looms, HR departments will want to prepare to help employees before it even starts. They’ll have questions, and you want to give them the information they need to make the best decisions about their benefits. Employees have confidence in you to answer questions and take care of them: Two-thirds of employees […]
Nearly 90% of your employees don’t understand benefits. And that’s a real concern as open enrollment season is knocking on our doors. Employees need to understand the benefits they have, the benefits they need and the benefits they could have. That means HR pros and their teams want to improve communication and education so employees […]
Growing SMBs often outgrow patchwork HR. Here's how PEO, ASO, SHRO and SaaS models compare, and what a Forrester study found about the financial impact of a PEO.
Maryland employers must register for the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. Registration opened Sept. 1 and is required for all employers with at least one Maryland-based employee. Employers considering an equivalent private insurance plan must file a Declaration of Intent between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15, 2026, to be exempt from contributions […]
New York employees will see their maximum annual Paid Family Leave (PFL) contribution rise to $451.81 in 2027, up from $411.91 in 2026. The state’s Department of Financial Services set the 2027 employee contribution rate at 0.452% of gross wages, up from 0.432%. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The maximum weekly benefit amount […]
When you’re an HR pro, open enrollment season means your inbox and voicemail will be full of questions. Employees will be knocking on your door to get their questions answered. Others will stop you in the hall to ask more. Employees are confused before it even starts. And they need your help. The best way […]
It’s open enrollment season, and with it, another round of decisions about next year’s benefits lineup. Medical plan designs usually get the lion’s share of the attention, but spending account providers also impact both cost and administrative workload. As benefits budgets come under review, HR has an opportunity to put the program’s costs and value […]
Most companies care more than ever about their employees’ well-being. You likely offer them opportunities to reduce stress or improve their overall health. But they may not take advantage of those. This might help get more participation: Give employees more tools while you’re all at work. What’s Up in This Episode: Employees Control Well-Being In […]
Employers are preparing for another benefits enrollment cycle, but new research from InComm Benefits points to a question HR should ask when choosing a spending account provider: Who will handle employees’ questions? In the study, InComm surveyed more than 300 HR professionals about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the challenges of spending-account administration. More than […]
The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued new guidance on the paid family and medical leave tax credit, but the change is more than a tax-planning issue. For some employers, it could reduce the cost of offering paid family and medical leave. Most notably, the expanded Section 45S credit gives […]
