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 September 27, 2023 by Nicole L. Stangl
In today’s interconnected world, how to protect vital business assets such as key employees and confidential information is top of mind for businesses. Tools such as non-solicitation, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements are utilized as a method of protection for businesses. However, the changing legal landscape related to non-compete provisions has made it essential to be […]
Posted on August 7, 2023 by Nicole L. Stangl
The New Form: On July 21, 2023 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new Form I-9. The new Form I-9 became available for employers to use on August 1, 2023. The old Form I-9 can continue to be used through October 31, 2023, but all employers must be using the new Form […]
Posted on June 29, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann
It just became very easy for an employee to sue their employer for failure to accommodate religious beliefs. Today, in its Groff v. DeJoy opinion, the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that an employer must make such an accommodation unless it would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its […]
Posted on June 5, 2023 by Sara J. Ackermann
Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s General Counsel publicly announced her position that most non-compete agreements violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by chilling employees’ ability to exercise their rights to engage in protected activity. Remember, the NLRA applies to all private sector employees that are in non-supervisory positions. This means those […]
Posted on May 17, 2023 by Mary Ellen Schill
On May 16, 2023, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2024. With respect to contribution limits, the limits are higher than the ones for 2023 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2024 HSA/HDHP Requirement Cost-of-Living […]
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 […]
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