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Employee Benefits Security Administration Issues Model COBRA Notices

Posted on March 19, 2009 by

Today, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued the model COBRA notices which were required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). We issued a legal update on February 25th that summarized the impact of ARRA on an employer’s COBRA obligations (both state and federal). For your reference, follow this link to […]

Mergers and Acquisitions Affected by Amended Thresholds and Increased Penalties Under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act as of February 12, 2009

Posted on March 18, 2009 by

A recent rulemaking announced by the Federal Trade Commission has amended the various filing thresholds for parties engaged in merger and acquisition activity subject to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR”), effective as of February 12, 2009. Also, monetary penalties for failure to comply with HSR have increased to $16,000 per day. Background: […]

Increase in WRS Rates Expected

Posted on March 5, 2009 by

At the end of 2008, it is estimated that the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) lost $18.6 billion as a result of the turndown in the economy. This estimate reflects a -26.2% return in 2008. In light of these losses, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds board, Mr. David Stella, reported that […]

New Top-Level Domain Names to be Allowed

Posted on March 3, 2009 by

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), the governing body responsible for issuing rules and regulations for Internet domain names, plans to sell an unlimited number of new top-level domain names beginning in late 2009. Top-level domain names are those letters to the right of the last “dot” in a website address, such […]

COBRA Provisions Q&A and IRS Form 941

Posted on February 27, 2009 by

Yesterday, we issued a client e-alert regarding the COBRA provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). The IRS was busy yesterday as well, issuing Q&As about those COBRA provisions, as well as a revised IRS Form 941. The updated Form 941 is the means by which employers are able to claim […]

COBRA Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Posted on February 25, 2009 by

Attorney Mary Ellen Schill spoke in Eau Claire on February 26 on the new COBRA rules found in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus law signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009). Since these new rules affect ALL employers sponsoring group health plans (regardless of size, and both public and […]

Judge Halts Milwaukee’s Paid Sick-Day Ordinance

Posted on February 11, 2009 by

On February 6, just four days before Milwaukee’s sick-pay ordinance was scheduled to go into effect, a Milwaukee County circuit court judge granted a temporary injunction sought by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. This means the ordinance is stayed pending a hearing on a permanent injunction now scheduled for May 11, 2009. Under the […]

Employee’s Termination for Failing to Report for Work Not a Violation of Federal FMLA

Posted on February 10, 2009 by

In a recent case, Phillips v. Mathews, 547 F.3d 905 (8th Cir. 2008), the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an employer did not violate the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when it terminated an employee after she failed to show up for work, even though the employer had sufficient notice that […]

2009 Senate Bill 46

Posted on February 10, 2009 by

2009 Senate Bill 46 was submitted in the Wisconsin State Senate on February 5, 2009. If adopted, the Bill will affect grievance arbitration and complying with fair-share agreements in collective bargaining agreements during contract hiatus. Under the current Municipal Employment Relations Act (MERA), an employer must maintain the status quo during contract negotiations (i.e., commonly […]

Senate Bill 20 – Increase of Fair Employment Act Compensatory and Punitive Damages

Posted on February 4, 2009 by

We wish to alert you to a pending Wisconsin Senate Bill which could have a devastating impact on employers if it becomes law. The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) protects employees and job applicants from discrimination on certain protected grounds, such as age, sex, race, disability, marital status, arrest or conviction record, etc. Under the […]