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 June 24, 2020 by Benjamin E. Streckert, Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
On Tuesday evening (June 22nd), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury released revisions to the interim final rule on forgiveness (issued May 22nd) and the interim final rule on loan review procedures (issued May 22nd). The revisions can be found here and are intended to update the rules in light of […]
Posted on June 22, 2020 by Sara J. Ackermann
On June 17, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 Guidance to clarify that unlike COVID-19 testing, an anti-body test would be a prohibited medical examination. The FAQ (at A.7) states as follows: Question: The CDC said in its Interim Guidelines that antibody test results “should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.” In […]
Posted on June 19, 2020 by Robert J. Reinertson
OSHA has just issued a “Guidance on Returning to Work” for what it calls “non-essential businesses”. According to OSHA’s press release, the Guidance supplements OSHA’s previously issued guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 and the White House “Guidelines for Opening up America Again”. The Guidance recommends a phased approach to reopening workplaces, as well as […]
Posted on June 17, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill, Amy E. Ebeling and Benjamin E. Streckert
On June 16 the SBA issued a revised Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application along with updated instructions. The update in large part reflects the changes made to PPP by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, enacted on June 5. The new form can be found here, and the new instructions can […]
Posted on June 15, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill and Sara J. Ackermann
Today the U.S. Supreme Court decided in a 6-3 decision that Title VII provides protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the four liberal Justices for the majority. Justice Alito, Justice Thomas, and Justice Kavanaugh dissented in lengthy […]
Posted on June 4, 2020 by Amy E. Ebeling, Mary Ellen Schill and Benjamin E. Streckert
Both the House and the Senate have now passed HR 7010 providing PPP borrowers more favorable terms. We first alerted you on May 27th of possible changes to PPP being considered by both the House and the Senate. Last night in a second vote (the first vote failed), the Senate passed the House Bill 7010, […]
Posted on June 1, 2020 by Sara J. Ackermann
Many of you are reopening (if you were closed) or bringing back staff who were either laid off or teleworking. With this comes MANY questions, such as: CAN we monitor off-duty conduct, and if so, SHOULD we?? If you are a private sector employer, your employees work in Wisconsin, and barring an employment contract or […]
Posted on May 27, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill, Amy E. Ebeling and Benjamin E. Streckert
As some Paycheck Protection Program loan borrowers approach the close of their eight week covered period (the period during which loan proceeds can be used for certain expenses and the corresponding loan amount can be forgiven), Congress is considering making significant changes to the program that would apply to existing loans and new PPP loans. […]
Posted on May 20, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill
In a bit of a respite from COVID-19, today the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2021. With respect to contribution limits, the limits are slightly higher than the ones for 2020. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2021. HSA/HDHP Requirement Cost-of-Living Adjustments Limit on HSA Contributions […]
Posted on May 20, 2020 by Robert J. Reinertson
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced yesterday that it will resume enforcing its illness reporting requirements with regard to COVID-19 cases for most employers. The new guidance may be found here. This is a reversal of the relaxation that OSHA announced six weeks ago that it was putting a hold on most COVID-19 […]
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