USCIS Releases Revised Form I-9

USCIS issued a revised Form I-9 on April 2, 2025 with an edition date of 01/20/25 and an expiration date of 05/31/2027. Although revisions are minor, it is important to use the approved and unexpired versions of the Form I-9.

New IRS Benefits Limits for 2025

Lake Effect HR & Law

Each year, the IRS sets new limits for ACA high deductible plans, employee benefits plans, flex plans, and retirement plans. Below is Lake Effect’s ready reference chart showing the Benefits Limits for the 2025 tax year.  Download Benefits Table   2024 2025 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)     Healthcare FSA max election (per year) (incl. LTD […]

Federal Court Vacates 2021 US Department of Labor Final Rule on Tipped Workers

On August 23, 2024, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas vacated the US Department of Labor (DOL) 2021 Final Rule which had set strict guidance on the payment of tipped employees. As a reminder, the 2021 Rule had established three different categories of work that may be performed by tipped employees and specified […]

Federal Judge Blocks Nationwide Noncompete Ban

Lake Effect previously blogged about the FTC’s ban on noncompetition agreements.  In a game-changing decision for employers, a federal judge in Texas has blocked the FTC’s nationwide ban on noncompetes, which was scheduled to take effect on September 4, 2024. The judge ruled that the FTC lacked substantive rulemaking authority to address unfair methods of […]

FTC  Ban on Noncompetition Agreements Takes Effect  

As we previously reported, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued its final rule on April 23, 2024, banning noncompetition agreements and related provisions.  The rule will take effect on September 4, 2024, 120 days after publication in the Federal Register.  As of September 4th, employers who have employees under existing noncompete agreements and related provisions, […]