Ask the Experts: Using a Health FSA on COBRA | Virginia Employee Benefits

Question: A terminated employee took COBRA for the health FSA. Can he stop making after-tax COBRA contributions after three months, then just keep paying the 2 percent admin fee and continue accessing the account? Or does he have to make full contributions in order to use it, even on COBRA? Answer: Health flexible spending account … Continued

Ask the Experts: Flu and FMLA | Virginia Employee Benefits

Question: Is the common flu considered a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Answer: Most cases of the common flu do not meet the definition of “serious health condition” and would not be eligible for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. Some cases of the flu, however, are severe … Continued

Federal Employment Law Update – August 2018 | Virginia Benefit Advisors

IRS Permits Student Loan Repayment Benefit as Part of Employer’s 401(K) On August 17, 2018, the federal Internal Revenue Service released a private ruling letter (Number 201833012) concluding that an employer may amend its 401(k) plan to provide student loan repayments (SLR) nonelective contributions under the program without violating the “contingent benefit” prohibitions of 26 … Continued

5 Employee Handbook Mistakes to Avoid | Virginia Benefit Brokers

Gary Wheeler, partner at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, a well-respected national employment law firm and legal partner to ThinkHR, explains five mistakes he sees frequently in his clients’ employee handbooks. It’s too long, inconsistent, or redundant. Like with your house, when you live with an employee handbook for a while, you collect things … Continued