DOL Announces 2 Employer Webinars

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host two webinars this month aimed at helping employers, plan sponsors and fiduciaries better understand compliance requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The first webinar, “The Benefits Brief,” will be held on October 20 and will focus on what employers, plan sponsors and fiduciaries can expect from an EBSA health plan investigation. EBSA investigations generally occur when the agency identifies potential noncompliance with ERISA federal health benefit requirements.

In April, EBSA issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2026-01, outlining the agency’s enforcement priorities and principles for employee benefit plan oversight, including health plans. During his keynote address at the 2026 PLANSPONSOR National Conference, Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Aronowitz, who heads EBSA, said the agency was pursuing an “enforcement reset” and pointed to the bulletin as part of that effort.

According to the agency, “The Benefits Brief” will explain: how investigations begin; which documents and records EBSA typically reviews; areas of investigative focus for group health plans; and the process for resolving violations. The webinar will be held at 2 p.m. ET, and individuals can register here.

The second event, “Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program Webinar,” will be held on October 22 and will provide an overview of the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, which allows plan officials and fiduciaries to voluntarily correct certain fiduciary breaches.

The webinar will cover: who may use the program; common transactions that can be corrected; available correction methods; and the application process. Participants will also learn about EBSA’s Self-Correction Component and relief available for certain corrected transactions.

The session is designed for plan officials, fiduciaries, service providers and advisers seeking to better understand voluntary correction options and support compliance with ERISA. The webinar will be held at 11 a.m. ET, and individuals can register here.