At Fall River we understand that during the past few months, everyone has been focused on the Coronavirus. As employers start to come up for air and tally up the financial hits from the pandemic, it’s more crucial than ever to find ways to save money and still be able to offer a competitive benefits package to employees. When was the last time you measured your benefits package against other employers?

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has created various financial constraints on Americans. From job losses and furloughs to the need for continued healthcare coverage and tax savings, our communities are feeling the pain. To provide some economic relief, the IRS and Department of Labor (DOL) recently released more guidance on changes to Section 125 Plans and COBRA provisions. 

To help ease some of the financial stress many Americans are facing due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act, or the CARES Act in late March. The CARES Act was responsible for a number of programs including the stimulus checks that were distributed in April, but it also provides additional financial relief by deferring Federal student loan payments with 0% interest until September 30, 2020.

Life has become more challenging for most of us as we sift through the various demands COVID-19 has added to our work and personal lives. The financial concerns of individuals and companies is just one area of added stress we’re facing. Since March 4, 2020, there have been four COVID-19 relief acts put in place, with possibly more to come. 

Telemedicine has been a solution for employers and employees seeking more convenient round-the-clock care for years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began and traditional in-person doctor’s offices have closed or moved to restricted visits, telehealth is no longer a novel benefit, but a vital part of any benefits package.

At Fall River we receive many questions regarding disability policies, and COVID-19 has introduced a plethora of new inquiries. Since disability provisions can be confusing and can vary between carriers, we’ve gathered a list of the most common questions our clients have posed to us. 

We are thrilled to announce that effective March 1st, Fall River Employee Benefits joined Alera Group, the nation’s 11th largest privately held employee benefits firm. This is a big step for us, and we are extremely excited to be part of a national company that shares our passion for innovation and collaboration! 

The rules and regulations around ERISA compliance can be challenging to navigate. Many mistakes are made because a provision is omitted or misunderstood, which can be costly because the fines for non-compliance are staggering, even for small employers. To dispel the fiction out there about ERISA, we’ve created this list of common myths that are keeping employers from fully complying.

There is no doubt that navigating business and everyday life during this unprecedented time is challenging. Here at Fall River, we have been proactively gathering the most useful resources to help us make the best internal decisions and to share with our clients. We have also been conversing with the carriers to find out how they are handling the benefits situations that have arisen from the pandemic.

A proposal for paid family and medical leave (FAMLI) has undergone substantial modifications, but its future on the Colorado legislative agenda this year is anything but certain. In 2019, the Colorado legislature created a task force to study paid FAMLI programs, which provided recommendations in January to legislators for a plan covering Colorado workers.