Compliance Stuff

In December 2025, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) adopted a new rule for postmarks so that they may indicate the processing date, instead of the date the post office took custody of the item. Employers may want to note this new postmark rule so that they don’t violate their legal notice requirements concerning their employee benefit plans. Quick Hits The USPS recently changed a rule so that postmarks may reflect the processing date, rather than the date a post office obtained a letter or package. The new rule could lead to fines for employers if mandatory notices concerning employee benefit plans are deemed late. Electronically sending mandatory notices can help to meet a legal deadline, if the recipient has agreed to electronic communications. Under federal laws like the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ,...

For the first time, the A ntitrust Division will offer substantial monetary rewards — between 15% to 30% of any criminal fines recovered — to individuals who provide credible and timely information about illegal activities such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation for prosecutions of at least $1 million in fines. Notably, the US Securities and Exchange Commission offers whistleblowers a reward range from 10% to 30%. The DOJ entered a  memorandum of understanding , which outlines the program requirements, with the USPS and United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) to form the whistleblower program. Reports can be submitted through a dedicated webpage, and whistleblowers are encouraged to act promptly to help ensure fair competition and accountability. The government stressed that the newly established program is an example of the DOJ’s commitment to root out illicit behavior in all industries, which includes industries where the USPS procur...