Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The following is a summary of the legislative and regulatory news for the week of May 10, 2009:
Agency Happenings
Both the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have issued their regulatory agendas for the coming months.
Health Care/Employee Benefits
A number of federal agencies are requesting information on the mental health parity provisions made by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) in advance of a future rulemaking on group health plans. Meanwhile, legislation providing employers with various incentives for promoting employee health may receive serious consideration now that Congress is contemplating major healthcare reform.
Immigration
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a fact sheet discussing its revised Worksite Enforcement Strategy, which will increase efforts to target employers in violation of immigration law.
Work/Family Balance
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor has issued an opinion letter clarifying that an employer’s internal notification policy regarding employee attendance can be enforced against an employee attempting to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) so long as compliance with the notice policy is practicable given the employee’s particular circumstances.