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If You Would Like to Know Whether Your Bank Deposits are Protected by FDIC Insurance, Read This E-Alert

Posted on November 17, 2008 by

In light of the financial troubles in the U.S. market, many individuals are concerned about the security of assets they have deposited at financial institutions. The FDIC – short for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – is an independent agency of the United States government that protects you against the loss of deposits if an […]

Breaking News! Department of Labor Finalizes Revisions to Regulations Implementing Federal Family and Medical Leave Act

Posted on November 14, 2008 by

The Department of Labor has been in the process of revising the regulations implementing the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. The Department of Labor will be formally issuing the final revised regulations on Monday, November 17, 2008, by publishing them in the Federal Register. We have obtained a copy of the revised […]

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) – Will You Be Prepared?

Posted on November 11, 2008 by

Now that we know Barack Obama will be our next president, there is a very good chance that some version of the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007 will become law early next year. This legislation will radically change the way unions organize workers in the United States. Even more important is that the legislation […]

2009 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2009 Social Security Taxable Wage Base

Posted on October 20, 2008 by

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2008 – $15,500 2009 – $16,500 $200,000 compensation limit 2008 – $230,000 2009 – $245,000 $160,000 defined benefit limit 2008 – $185,000 2009 – $195,000 $40,000 defined contribution […]

Reminder – New W-4 and I-9 Forms for 2009

Posted on October 7, 2008 by

As a reminder, the federal government has updated the required W-4 form for 2009. All employers are required to have the most recent version of the W-4 available for employees. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security recently update the mandatory I-9 form. The updated form must completed for all new employees. Certain businesses are […]

President Bush Signs Act Broadening ADA Protections for Employees and Job Applicants

Posted on September 28, 2008 by

Congress previously gave approval to a major civil rights bill expanding protections for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill proposed sweeping amendments to the ADA in a number of aspects to overturn several recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions. President Bush signed the proposed ADA amendments into law on September […]

Seventh Circuit Reviews ADA Association Discrimination and ERISA Retaliation

Posted on April 15, 2008 by

The United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Wisconsin, recently addressed a case in which an employee whose spouse had high medical costs claimed, among other things, that she was terminated because of these costs. Dewitt v. Proctor 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 4157 (7th Cir. 2008). The employer claimed that the employee was […]

SB 404 and AB712 – Penalties for Wisconsin Businesses Employing Illegal Aliens

Posted on February 29, 2008 by

Senate Bill 404 and Assembly Bill 712 were recently introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. They are not yet law but proposed laws. They target Wisconsin employers employing illegal aliens. The proposed legislation addresses “no match” letter issues (i.e., notification that an employee’s name does not match with the social security number given). The proposed legislation […]

Senate Bill 165/Assembly Bill 310 – Cause of Action in Court and Punitive Damages for Wisconsin Fair Employment Act Cases

Posted on February 26, 2008 by

We wish to alert you to the following pending Wisconsin legislation. I. BACKGROUND. A federal law, Title VII of the U.S. Code (Title VII), permits discrimination claims to be brought in federal court. Under Title VII, punitive damages can be awarded against an employer in some circumstances. Small Wisconsin employers (under 15 employees) are not […]

Proposed FMLA Regulations Clarify Covered Conditions, Certification

Posted on February 12, 2008 by

The U.S. Department of Labor finally published the long-awaited proposed revisions to the federal FMLA regulations in the Federal Register on February 11, 2008. The proposed regulations are not yet law.   The regulations are intended to improve communication between employees, employers, and healthcare providers.   Among other things, the proposed revisions address:   Medical […]