ERIC asks for Guidance on Workplace Wellness Programs

The ERISA Industry Committee wrote a letter to the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services and the Equal Opportunity Commission asking for them to provide guidance on certain issues affecting workplace wellness programs. You can read the letter in its entirety here.

ERIC Urges PBGC to Withdraw Proposed Regulations on New Reportable Events Requirements

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), the Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing America’s major employers, earlier today submitted comments to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on the agency’s proposed rule to eliminate most of its automatic waivers and filing extensions currently permitted under existing reportable events regulations and guidance. The proposed regulations were published in …

ERIC Calls IRS “Substantial Business Hardship” Requirement Unnecessary and Burdensome

In comments submitted today to the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) welcomed the relief provided in proposed regulations allowing plan sponsors to suspend qualified non-elective contributions (QNECs) in safe harbor section 401(k) plans, but urged that the “substantial business hardship” requirement be dropped from the final regulation as …

ERIC Urges Balance on Implementing Regulations under Mental Health Parity Act

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) earlier today submitted comments to the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration in response to a “request for information” regarding the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). To help them prepare guidance, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, …

ERIC Comments on Proposed Hybrid Retirement Plan Regulations

ERIC’s comments to the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on proposed regulations relating to hybrid pension plans urged the agencies to make significant changes in the regulations and the philosophy with which Treasury and IRS are pursuing. The Pension Protection Act of 2006, in which Congress effectively “blessed” the development of cash balance …

ERIC Submits Comments on Funding Regulations

ERIC submitted comments on proposed regulations regarding the measurement of assets and liabilities for pension funding purposes, highlighting primary issues on asset smoothing, ancillary disability benefits, identifying at-risk plans, publication of the full yield curve, and transition issues. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on December 31, 2007, published in the Federal Register the proposed regulations, …