A Rule Deferred: Department of Labor Delays Implementation of Fiduciary Rule

Matthew P. Chiarello • February 16, 2017

As we previously discussed in our May 19, 2016 SW Benefits Update , the Department of Labor (the “Department”) previously issued final regulations on fiduciary conflicts of interest in retirement programs.  The rules, which focus on curbing self-interested advice to retirement plan and IRA participants, were slated to become effective April 10, 2017.

However, the Department has proposed a delay to the rules of at least 180 days beyond the original effective date and will seek public comment on the rules.  The proposed deferral arises from an executive memorandum dated February 3, 2017, in which President Trump instructs the Department to conduct an “updated economic and legal analysis concerning the likely impact of the fiduciary rule.”  That memorandum signals that the fiduciary rule “may not be consistent with the policies of [the Trump] Administration.”  Accordingly, the fate of the rules in their present form remain uncertain.

Since the rules were finalized in April 2016, a number of lawsuits have been filed challenging them, but so far three federal courts have upheld the rule.  For additional information about the legal challenges to the fiduciary rule, please see our June 13, 2016 blog, “ Five Lawsuits Filed Against DOL’s Fiduciary Rule (So Far). ”

Employee burnout: what it is and how to prevent it

By Mardy Gould • May 24, 2024
Employee burnout has become an epidemic in today’s modern workplace. So much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognizes it as an “occupational phenomenon.”1 While many used to consider mounting workplace stress an individual employee problem, these days, it’s become an employer’s responsibility to prevent burnout before it hurts productivity and business performance—not to mention your employees’ physical and mental health. Luckily, you can prevent burnout from affecting your workforce in several ways. This article will explore the causes and signs of employee burnout and the steps you can take to create a positive work environment where employees feel safe from toxic stress levels.

Form 720 and PCORI fee FAQs

By Mardy Gould • May 23, 2024
If you're a small business owner, you may have heard of the acronym PCORI and the fees that come with it. But what is PCORI, and how does it apply to your organization? Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sponsors of self-insured health plans must pay a fee to fund the federal Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). PCORI is an independent organization the ACA created to conduct research to help healthcare consumers make better decisions for their specific needs and outcomes. It also performs research related to clinical effectiveness. Employers offering a self-insured medical reimbursement health plan, such as a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), must pay this fee by July 31 each year via Form 7201. This fee was initially set to expire in 2019, but Congress extended it through September 30, 20292, due to the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 20203.
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