ABC is providing its members with a set of pro-merit shop messages that can be used to communicate the merit shop philosophy with employees, and new messages have been added to the collection. 

For plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2013, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act imposes a $2,500 limit on annual salary reduction contributions to health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) offered under cafeteria plans. This is a reduction from the current limit of $5,000. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oct. 16 issued a directive that details how compliance officers should check road construction products.  

ABC members can contribute to disaster relief efforts for the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy through the ABC and Red Cross co-branded donation site. Visit http://american.redcross.org/abc-pub to view the page or make a donation. 

Sam Cook, one of ABC’s “Leaders of the Century” and author of “Freedom in the Workplace,” which describes the history of ABC, passed away Oct. 30 in Baltimore, Md. He was 91 years old. 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers that issue more than 250 W-2 forms to report the cost of health care coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan on each employee’s 2012 W-2 form, which generally are required to be provided to employees in January 2013.  

ABC’s Regulatory Alert provides an overview of federally mandated rules, regulations and enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies. Below are brief summaries of current issues, as well as links to more detailed information and guidance. If you have any questions, please email regulatory@abc.org.

ABC member and Oklahoma small businessman Markwayne Mullin Oct. 13 delivered the Weekly Republican Address.