Handbook Policy Development & Audits
Employee handbooks are an integral road map for employees to navigate the rules of their employer.
At Ruder Ware, our attorney team has written countless handbooks to provide processes, protections, and proactive guidance. Our handbooks are in compliance with the latest laws and policies and are customized to each employers unique work force. Topics regularly addressed in the handbooks include:
- Hiring
- Employee retention
- Employment at-will
- Dispute resolution procedures including arbitration
- Racial and sexual harassment
- Equal opportunity
- Employee dignity
- Safety and health
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Rules of conduct
- Employee discipline
- Attendance
- Lay-off and recall
- Job transfers and promotions
- Paid time off (e.g., vacation, holidays, sick pay, etc.)
It has been said that the best HR is proactive HR. Because of that our employment attorneys created an audit program to provide of checkup of current operations. The goal is to ensure that in-place policies and procedures comply with current employment laws. There is no one-size-fits-all program as the audit is a review of your current policies and procedures. Our attorneys are up-to-date on current state and federal laws and have the training and applicable know-how to evaluate whether they provide the appropriate protections. To schedule your audit contact Sara Ackermann (link to profile).
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on February 28, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann
Last week in Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, the Supreme Court affirmed employees must be paid a fixed salary of $684.00 per week to be considered “exempt” under the popular administrative, executive, and professional exemptions. The case involved Michael Hewitt, an oil rig worker who was paid a daily rate. His paycheck, issued […]
Posted on February 14, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann
If you are a federal contractor, keep reading. Last summer, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a notice to all federal contractors that the Center for Investigative Reporting had requested EEO-1 reports for 2016-2020 pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). While the motive is uncertain, it is likely that this […]
Posted on January 11, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann, John H. Fisher II and Nicole L. Stangl
Dear Ruder, we are getting lots of long emails from various sources about this proposed noncompete ban. Can you please break this down in easy-to-read language so we don’t have to review the entire 216 pages of the FTC’s proposed rule? Dear Reader, Yes we can! See our answers to some frequently asked questions below! […]
Posted on January 6, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann and John H. Fisher II
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) started the new year off with a bang when it announced in a press release on January 5, 2023 that it is proposing a new rule that would ban many employee non-compete clauses. The press release follows a 3-1 vote by the FTC to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking […]
Posted on January 5, 2023 by Nicole L. Stangl
The Speak Out Act (“Act”) became law on December 7, 2022. The Act prohibits the enforcement of non-disclosure or non-disparagement provisions which are agreed to prior to an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment (“sexual misconduct”). The Act applies to disputes regarding alleged sexual misconduct that occur after December 7, 2022. A full version […]
Posted on December 29, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2023 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. The most notable change is the three-cent per mile increase for businesses. Effective January 1, 2023, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a car […]
Posted on October 21, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill
On October 21, 2022 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. All of the limits shown below have increased (in some cases significantly) from last year. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2022 – $20,500 2023 – $22,500 $200,000 compensation limit […]
Posted on October 20, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
Recently, we have been fielding a fair number of inquiries from clients who have been approached by third parties urging them to claim the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”). The ERC, which the federal government enacted back in 2020 to help blunt the economic impact of COVID-19, is a refundable tax credit designed to reward businesses […]
Posted on October 19, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann
Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a new poster that is required for employers covered by Title VII. The new poster is entitled “Know Your Rights” and includes these changes: Notes that harassment is a prohibited form of discrimination; Clarifies that sex discrimination includes discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or […]
Posted on October 5, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann and Kelly T. Wilfert
Do you have employees in the Viking state? If so, keep reading! On July 1, 2022, Minnesota adopted a new law legalizing the sale, purchase, and consumption of edible cannabinoid products to people aged 21 and over. The law legalized the use of edible cannabinoid products made from substances extracted from certified hemp plants. The […]
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