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)…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
A PEO is often the answer growing businesses land on once HR complexity stops scaling in a straight line. The first hire in a new state brings new payroll tax rules, new leave requirements and new filing deadlines. The benefits…
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…
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,…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affordability update for 2027, giving employers a new figure to consider when reviewing their health plans and preparing for open enrollment. The ACA affordability percentage sets the threshold…
