Gastroparesis Awareness Month (August)

Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the muscles of the stomach, preventing proper stomach emptying. It can cause indigestion, pain, bloating, heartburn and blood sugar fluctuations. Nearly 1 in 3 people who have diabetes develop gastroparesis, but it can also arise following surgery, the use of certain medications or in association with another illness.
Compliance Tracker – August

No Key Compliance Deadlines for August
Employers with calendar-year plans should start preparing for open enrollment for the plan year starting Jan. 1, 2025. This process should include reviewing your company’s benefit offerings, working with vendors to make any benefit adjustments, updating benefit limits and contribution amounts for 2025, and preparing employee communications.
Compliance Overview – Spousal Incentive HRAs

Spousal incentive health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are a type of tax-advantaged medical reimbursement account that employers use as a cost-savings strategy. A spousal incentive HRA works like a traditional HRA in many respects, but it is only available to employees who enroll in health coverage through a spouse’s employer. By reimbursing employees on a tax-free basis for their eligible out-of-pocket expenses under a spouse’s health plan, this type of HRA incentivizes employees to enroll in health coverage through their spouse’s employer instead of their own employer.
Think Well, Be Well: Navigating Social Anxiety in Summer

Summer is a time for sunshine, outdoor activities and social gatherings, with ample opportunities to unwind and connect withothers. However, for those experiencing social anxiety, these gatherings can be intimidating.
An AnxietyCentre.com poll found that nearly three-quarters (73%) of people experience increased anxiety symptoms during the summer. Experts attribute this rise to various factors, including heightened social expectations and seasonal changes.
Legal Update: Pennsylvania Federal District Court Declines to Block FTC Noncompete Ban

On July 23, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied
the plaintiff’s motion in ATS Tree Services LLC v. FTC for a preliminary injunction to block the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) noncompete ban. This ruling differs from an early July holding in a similar case in the Northern District of Texas (Ryan LLC v. FTC) that partially blocked the ban with respect to the plaintiffs in that case, but not nationwide. In each case, the ban is still scheduled to take effect for most employers on Sept. 4, 2024.