Family-Friendly Benefit Legislation: What’s Next?

Abstract

What Corporate America innovates, the government legislates. This has particularly been the case with employee benefit programs. For years we have observed the federal and state governments enact laws to protect the rights of the employees benefiting from these programs. For better or worse, these laws are often accompanied by significant administrative obligations for the employer or the plan sponsor. This article examines recently legislated “family-friendly” employee benefit programs, specifically, adoption assistance, lactation accommodations, child support collection, benefits for the treatment of infertility and state enhancements to FMLA. A brief description of the plan is provided as well as why these benefits are offered, the benefit to the employee, corporate compliance requirements and possible penalties (if any) and an overall rationale for offering the program. The article concludes by suggesting several useful approaches that companies can adopt to respond to these regulations and to protect themselves and their employees.