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 September 10, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, President Biden announced his new COVID-19 plan entitled “Path out of the Pandemic” (Plan). While this Plan includes several provisions, this e-alert highlights a few of those of most interest to employers: OSHA was directed to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). This ETS will require private sector employers with […]
Posted on August 17, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl and Robert J. Reinertson
On August 13, 2021, OSHA updated Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (Guidance) related to the COVID-19 vaccine and masking. The Guidance now incorporates the new CDC recommendations including: Wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission; Choosing to wear a […]
Posted on August 16, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
The newly-appointed General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Jennifer Abruzzo, has issued a memorandum to NLRB regional offices saying that she intends to “reexamine” positions taken by her predecessors and the Trump Era Board. During the Trump Administration, the NLRB overruled a number of legal precedents while taking a more employer-friendly stance. […]
Posted on August 10, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl
OSHA issued a COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on June 10, 2021 that applied to the healthcare sector. Included in the ETS is an exemption from the masking, distancing, and barrier requirements for employees who are fully vaccinated when in a well-defined area where there is no reasonable expectation that any person with suspected or […]
Posted on August 3, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl
After many months of mostly virtual enforcement, OSHA is back to in-person site inspections and OSHA enforcement has become a priority for the Administration. As such, businesses should be aware of rights they have and how to best respond when OSHA comes knocking OSHA Just Showed Up, What Can I Do? With some exceptions, OSHA’s […]
Posted on July 28, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann
Yesterday the CDC issued new guidance recommending Americans to “wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” The site includes a link so individuals can search their particular county to find out if transmission is low, moderate, substantial, or high. As of the date of this […]
Posted on June 23, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann
It was about this time last summer when the U.S. Supreme Court extended Title VII protections to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and transgender status. Now the federal agency tasked with enforcing these new protections has clarified just what the new protections mean for employers. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission […]
Posted on May 26, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
OSHA has changed course and is now advising employers they do not need to record employees’ adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines on their OSHA logs. A month ago, OSHA’s position was adverse vaccine reactions had to be recorded as illnesses if an employer required its employees to be vaccinated. The new guidance now relieves employers […]
Posted on May 15, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann, Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
Unless you have been in a cave, you are aware that on May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that individuals who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no longer need to wear a face covering in many settings. (CDC Guidance) Many of you shouted “HOORAY!” when you heard this […]
Posted on May 11, 2021 by Mary Ellen Schill
Yesterday, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2022. With respect to contribution limits, the limits are slightly higher than the ones for 2021. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2022. HSA/HDHP Requirement Cost-of-Living Adjustments Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP 2021 – $3,600 2022 – […]
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