Employee Benefits: What In-House Professionals Should Know

Mintz Of Counsel Michelle Capezza presented "Employee Benefits: What In-House Professionals Should Know," a webinar hosted by the Clear Law Institute.

Employer-sponsored benefit plans and compensation programs are governed by a myriad of laws, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code (Code), and the Affordable Care Act, just to name a few. In this program, Ms. Capezza explored various types of employer-sponsored programs and provided an overview of many issues that in-house professionals who oversee these programs should be familiar with in order to identify compliance issues and implement resolutions. This program served as a broad introduction to employee benefits and help you to identify areas you may wish to explore further in greater detail.

Ms. Capezza began this program with a brief overview of retirement plans, health and welfare plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and related trends in these areas. Next, the program addressed fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA for applicable programs and best practices. Ms. Capezza commented on various plan correction programs that are available and when they should be explored. Ms. Capezza also addressed common issues that arise in employment and severance arrangements, including with regard to Section 409A of the Code. Finally, Ms. Capezza adressed diligence issues in corporate transactions.

Key topics covered:

1. Understand the different types of employer-sponsored benefit programs and compensation arrangements
2. Develop best practices related to fiduciary responsibilities
3. Identify plan compliance issues and implement timely correction of error
4. Develop compensation arrangements that comply with Section 409A of the Code
5. Address benefits issues in corporate transactions