Welcome to the IMA Human Resources Blog. The blog format reflects our efforts to provide IMA members with timely, relevant and thought provoking information in a form that is accessible for easy reference. IMA’s Human Resources Blog will be updated on a regular basis. Weekly news update emails will be sent out to notify subscribers of new information posted on the blog. IMA members are welcome to submit material for the blog, or request specific information. Simply email Editor Stefany Henson at shenson@ima-net.org with your information or request. Editorial submissions are subject to review. 

Thursday
May232013

Employee Notices About PPACA Insurance Exchanges — Guidance Issued

from IMA member Vedder Price PC

One of the 2013 action items for employers under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the production and distribution of a notice to employees about the health insurance exchanges that will become effective in 2014. Under the statute, these notices were originally required to be distributed by March 1, 2013. However, in January 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) delayed this distribution requirement until it had an opportunity to issue further guidance. On May 8, 2013, the DOL issued that guidance in the form of Technical Release 2013-02 and a model notice published on the DOL’s website. The DOL describes the insurance exchanges as “Marketplaces,” a term we will use in this alert.

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Thursday
May232013

Illinois vs. Indiana: Five Key Workers’ Compensation Issues And How Each State Deals With Them

FREE Webinar* from IMA member Bryce Downey & Lenkov LLC — Friday, June 7, 2013 10:00-11:00 AM CDT

Illinois and Indiana are so close geographically but so far in terms of workers’ compensation systems.

Join Rich Lenkov and Justin Nestor as they discuss how Illinois and Indiana deal with five key issues…

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Wednesday
May152013

Four in 10 Americans Unaware ObamaCare Is Law of the Land

More than three years after the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) was signed into law, Americans are still confused about what the bill does and whether or not it is even law. A new Kaiser Family Foundation public opinion poll finds that a large percentage of the lay public is unclear about the legal status of ObamaCare or whether Medicaid should be expanded. • The survey, which called 1,203 adults over the age of 18 living in the United States, found that 40 percent of respondents received information about the health care law from conversations with friends and family, and 36 percent from newspapers, radio news or other online sources, but only 11 percent from their doctor, 11 percent from an employer, 9 percent from a federal agency and 8 percent from a state agency.

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Wednesday
May152013

Not too late to register for the Supervisory Webinars!

from IMA member Sikich

Sikich’s 3-part Supervisory Webinar Series begins with HR Compliance for Supervisors, which provides an overview of key compliance topics with a special emphasis on your responsibilities as a supervisor.

Employment laws covered will include:

- Fair Labor Standards Act/Wage and Hour Issues

- Title VII

- Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act

- Age Discrimination in Employment Act

- Family Medical Leave Act

- Immigration Regulation and Control Act

May 22, 2013, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST

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Thursday
May092013

Automation of Form I-94 and Release of New Form I-9

Visitors to the United States May Need to Print Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records — from IMA member Vedder Price PC

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) began a new program on April 30, 2013 that will end issuance of paper Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records for many visitors. Foreign visitors arriving in the United States via air or sea who need to prove their lawful immigration status will be required to access their arrival information online and print their own Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records (Form I-94). A hard copy of Form I-94 is required to begin employment, apply for a Social Security Number, and obtain a driver’s license or identification document.

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