News and Analysis
Federal Court Upholds Attorneys’ Fee Award Against Former Employees in Ohio Non-Compete Case
January 18, 2019From OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward: “Although some departing employees are willing to risk violating their non-competes when they leave a company, a recent court decision reinforced one of the significant dangers that those employees can face in doing so. In this decision, a federal appeals court in Ohio ruled that a former employee who violates a non-compete can be forced to pay the employer’s legal fees, even if the former employer does not prevail on all of the issues raised.”
Read more about this from Frantz Ward. 1/17/2019
Health FSA Limit Increased in 2019
January 11, 2019The ACA imposes a dollar limit on employees’ salary reduction contributions to health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) offered under cafeteria plans. This dollar limit is indexed for cost-of-living adjustments.
In November 2018, the IRS increased the health FSA contribution limit from $2,650 to $2,700 for taxable years beginning in 2019.
Employers should ensure that their health FSA will not allow employees to make pre-tax contributions in excess of $2,700 for 2019, and they should communicate the 2019 limit to their employees.
Questions? Contact One Source Advisors, OMA’s endorsed health care broker. 1/6/2019
H-1B Visa Filing Season Starts April 1
January 11, 2019From OMA Connections Partner Dinsmore: “April 1, 2019 is the first day U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may accept H-1B specialty worker petitions for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2019. …
“Due to the overwhelming demand for the annual allotment of 85,000 new H-1B slots, employers who wish to file new H-1B petitions for current or future employees should do so April 1. … Last year, USCIS received 190,098 petitions within the first week of the petition period, then conducted a random lottery to determine which petitions would take the 85,000 slots.”
More from Dinsmore. 1/7/2019
You May be Able to Save More for Retirement In 2019
January 11, 2019Our friends at OMA Connections Partner GBQ recap the 2019 contribution limits for 401(k) and other retirement savings plans here. 1/10/2019
