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 through its offices in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. A full-service law firm, over 40 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on April 7, 2021 by Mary Ellen Schill
Today the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the section of the Department of Labor that handles all things employee benefit plans, posted a dedicated webpage with much anticipated (and much needed) employer tools on the “COBRA subsidy” provision of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), which was enacted on March 11, 2021. The […]
Posted on April 1, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl
On March 30, 2021, Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Human Services (DHS), announced that everyone age 16 and over will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 5, 2021. Currently the Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for individual’s age 16 & 17. Vaccination providers will continue to prioritize […]
Posted on March 26, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
Marathon County Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced on March 25, 2021 that a community-based vaccination clinic will open in Marathon County on April 6, 2021. The clinic will be open Tuesday, April 6, through Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m. – 7p.m., and will be located at the […]
Posted on March 5, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
On February 25, 2021, Governor Tony Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 4 (“Act”). The Act became effective on February 26, 2021. The Act, in part, created broad immunity to civil liability related to exposure of COVID-19 for companies under Wisconsin Statute section 895.476 (“Statute”). The full Act is available here. Worker’s compensation is still the […]
Posted on February 4, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl, Sara J. Ackermann, Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
On Thursday, February 4, 2021, the Wisconsin State Assembly (“Assembly”) voted on a resolution to repeal the mask mandate. This vote came a week after the Wisconsin State Senate (“Senate”) voted on the same resolution to repeal the mask mandate. The same statute that gives the Governor power to create executive orders, also allows the […]
Posted on February 1, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new, “stronger” Guidance on identifying and preventing coronavirus exposure risks in the workplace. Although this is labeled a “Guidance” and OSHA says that it is advisory, employers are cautioned that they can be at risk for standard OSHA penalties under the General Duty Clause if […]
Posted on January 25, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order (“Order”) which directs the Secretary of Labor, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to: Issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic within two weeks of the Order; Consider whether an emergency temporary standard on COVID-19, including whether masks […]
Posted on January 21, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl and Robert J. Reinertson
Today the CDC issued its “COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Essential Workers: Getting Started”, which includes posters, FAQs, and templates to use when communicating with your workforce about the vaccine. In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ webpage on the vaccine has a great deal of information specific to our state. As always, as you […]
Posted on January 4, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl and Sara J. Ackermann
Happy New Year! As we move into 2021, we know that many of you are considering whether to require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination. The current COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) from the Food and Drug Administration. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) governs the conditions of emergency use […]
Posted on December 23, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2021, and the decrease in rates reflect the decrease in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle. Effective January 1, 2021, the optional standard mileage rates […]
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