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A former podcast from Lockton’s ERISA Compliance Consulting team 

You’ve reached the home of ERISA is a Friend of Mine, an informal and informational podcast series that Lockton’s ERISA Compliance Consulting team produced from 2019 to 2022. Scroll down to view and listen to any of the podcast episodes. NOTE: These podcasts have not been updated since their publication dates.

For the latest information and content on ERISA and other employee benefits issues, click below to visit Lockton’s Compliance Consulting webpage, and to learn more about our services and Lockton People Solutions.

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Jun 7, 2021

More and more employers are turning to “voluntary benefits” to supplement their traditional group offerings, but what does the term voluntary benefits really mean? Aren’t all benefits “voluntary”?

Join host Scott Behrens and his trusty sidekick (at least for this episode) Ed Fensholt as they explain why some benefits are more “voluntary” than others, what’s required for some voluntary benefits to avoid ERISA, and whether what employers don’t do in order to avoid ERISA status might do their employees (and themselves) more harm than good. This episode tackles:

  • How many times did Ed try to kill Scott in one week?
  • What does the term “voluntary benefits” really mean?
  • Is ERISA’s safe harbor for voluntary benefits a refuge because a benefit is employee-pay-all, or paid with after-tax dollars?
  • The ERISA safe harbor is lost due to employer “endorsement,” but what constitutes an endorsement? Hint: it doesn’t take much.
  • Who would win the Pay-per-view showdown between the DOL, IRS and HHS?
  • Would employers (and their employees) be better off by embracing the glory that is ERISA?