Some but not all employer severance arrangements fall under ERISA's oversight. As a federal law, ERISA aims to regulate employer-sponsored group benefit plans, such as health insurance, disability, and pensions. However, certain severance packages can also fall under ERISA's definition of an “employee benefit plan.”
There is no minimum number of employees that a business must have for ERISA law to apply. Employers must follow ERISA rules when developing and implementing a retirement and/or health benefits plan. They are required to clearly spell out details of the plan's features within a Summary Plan Description (SPD).
Under ERISA, each fund is subject to additional requirements and obligations once more than 25 percent of the fund's assets under management (AUM) are subject to ERISA (the 25 percent threshold).
ERISA sets uniform minimum standards to ensure that employee benefit plans are established or maintained in a fair and financially sound manner. In addition, employers have an obligation to provide promised benefits and satisfy ERISA's requirements for managing and administering private retirement and welfare plans.
ERISA exempts only two types of employers: Employee benefit plans maintained by governmental employers are exempt from ERISA's requirements. This exemption includes plans maintained by the federal, state or local (for example, a city, county or township) governments. Church plans are also exempt from ERISA.
ERISA stands for Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement plans in the private sector. Non-ERISA plans, on the other hand, are not governed by ERISA and are not subject to its regulations.
Firing in Arizona Firing can occur due to poor performance, misconduct, or a violation of company policies. Arizona follows the “at-will” employment doctrine, allowing employers to terminate employees without cause as long as the termination is not discriminatory or retaliatory.
Most termination clauses are an agreement between the employer and the employee that in the event the employer elects to dismiss the employee without cause, the employee will only receive what they are entitled to under the Employment Standards Code.
How to Structure a Severance Agreement Determine Eligibility: Decide which employees will be offered a severance agreement based on company policy or specific circumstances. Consult Legal Counsel: Work with an attorney to draft the agreement to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.