Employee Benefits

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a five-year labor agreement with the United University Professions, affecting 42,000 SUNY staff. The deal's implications on budget and procurement practices could open new opportunities for contractors involved in payroll and benefits management.

Oklahoma's new law requires three days of paid bereavement leave for public school teachers and staff. This change, effective July 1, 2026, aims to enhance educator retention and aligns state benefits with larger employers, affecting procurement processes within school districts.

Virginia's Governor signed a comprehensive paid family and medical leave law benefiting over three million residents. This initiative opens procurement opportunities, particularly for vendors in benefits administration, payroll systems, and compliance services.

DHS employees are facing erroneous notifications regarding their FEHB enrollment, primarily due to processing delays. This could impact contract administration and employee benefits, necessitating prompt action from affected staff to rectify discrepancies with HR. Organizations involved in federal benefits systems must enhance their data exchange processes to mitigate similar issues.