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 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 – […]
Posted on April 27, 2021 by Robert J. Reinertson and Nicole L. Stangl
There are two new developments on the OSHA COVID-19 front to report. First, yesterday, OSHA sent a draft of a new, mandatory, temporary emergency standard on COVID-19 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Up to now, OSHA has not had a mandatory standard in place to deal with the coronavirus, relying […]
Posted on April 20, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl
Last October, we shared information about the emergency rule that created DWD 120.02 which required Wisconsin employers to notify workers of the availability of unemployment insurance upon separation of employment in a post titled Wisconsin Employers Must Notify Workers of Unemployment Insurance Upon Separation. As of March 31, 2021, the emergency rule requiring unemployment insurance […]
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 […]
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