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Laws that Impact Employee Benefits

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) regulates employers who offer pension or retirement benefit plans to their employees. One of the most important components of ERISA as it relates to employee benefits is that certain employers and plan administrators must pay premiums to the federal government for insurance to protect employee retirement benefits.

  • The Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) has an important provision requiring the continuation of health-care benefits for employees whose employment is terminated (voluntarily or involuntarily) for a certain number of months, which may be further extended if employees pay the associated costs.
  • The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) guarantees freedom of choice and majority rule for employees in choosing exclusive bargaining representatives to negotiate benefits for covered bargaining unit employees.
  • The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act) protects employee contributions to union funds by requiring labor organizations to file annual financial reports.
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers with 50 or more employees to allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for the birth or adoption of a child or the serious illness of an employee or a spouse, child, or parent.
  • Veterans’ Preference laws permit special employment preference rights for eligible veterans applying for governmental jobs. The preferential factors apply only at the time of initial hiring and/or in the event of a reduction in force.

Inside Laws that Impact Employee Benefits