Human Resources Counseling
Back
Human Resource professionals are expected to be up-to-date on employment laws and how they apply to their workforce. Plus, any task performed by HR carries some amount of legal risk.
With as often as rules change and as varied as employee needs and issues can be, HR professionals need a trusted partner. Ruder Ware’s employment attorneys are often considered an extension of a company’s internal HR department. Our attorneys are up-to-date on current state and federal employment laws and have walked seasoned HR professionals through incredibly tense employee issues and have emerged with practical solutions and sound advice.
Our attorneys provide counsel on:
- Background investigations and pre-employment screening
- Disability accommodation & leave management
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Employment contracts and arbitration agreements
- Employee handbooks and policies
- Employee privacy
- FMLA/ADA solutions
- Immigration & Workforce Mobility
- International employment
- Nondiscrimination
- Occupational safety and health
- Protection of trade secrets and confidential information, and drafting non-disclosure and non-competition agreements
- Severance agreements
- Training for executives, managers and employees (including harassment prevention and social media)
- Wage and hour
- Workplace harassment
- Workplace investigations into employee misconduct
- Workforce restructuring & reductions in force
While our attorneys are skilled at proactive measures, issues such as accidents, missteps, or claims against the company are still a possibility. Ruder Ware’s team of litigators are prepared to provide counsel at that next level – whether through mediation or litigation.
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.
Back
Posted on February 11, 2026 by Samuel J. S. Moheban
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap lottery will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19. The registration fee for this year is $215 per registration. New Weighted Selection Process […]
Posted on December 29, 2025 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2026 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. The most notable change is the per mile increase for business use mileage. Effective January 1, 2026, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a […]
Posted on December 19, 2025 by Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl and Morgan H. Sweeney
President Trump signed H.R. 1 (commonly known as, the One Big Beautiful Bill) into law on July 4, 2025, which includes a no tax on overtime provision effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028. Under H.R. 1, employees can take an above the line deduction for “Qualified Overtime.” The deduction is subject to annual […]
Posted on November 13, 2025 by Mary Ellen Schill
On November 13, 2025 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. Almost all of the limits shown below have increased from last year. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2025 – $23,500 2026 – $24,500 $200,000 compensation limit 2025 – $350,000 […]
Posted on October 24, 2025 by Samuel J. S. Moheban and John N. Jacobson
Assembly Bill 281 (Senate Bill 287) would require certain Wisconsin employers to participate in the federal E-Verify program. The proposed mandate would apply to state agencies and local government units within Wisconsin. In addition, bidders on state contracts subject to the low-bid process would be required to enroll in E-Verify to qualify to bid. Insight […]
Posted on October 21, 2025 by Samuel J. S. Moheban
On October 20, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued new guidance clarifying how the recent $100,000 H-1B fee proclamation would be implemented, notably: The $100,000 fee does not apply to petitions filed before September 21, 2025. The $100,000 fee does not apply to petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, […]
Posted on October 17, 2025 by Samuel J. S. Moheban
On October 16, 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that President Trump’s recent proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions is unlawful, […]
Posted on September 24, 2025 by Samuel J. S. Moheban
On September 19, 2025, the President signed an executive order directing the creation of a “Gold Card” program in which a one-million-dollar gift to the United States on behalf of an individual or two-million-dollar gift to the United States by an entity on behalf of an individual shall be treated as evidence of eligibility for […]
Posted on September 23, 2025 by Samuel J. S. Moheban
Late last week, the White House issued a Proclamation which added a payment requirement of $100,000 to new H-1B petitions. The Proclamation provides a narrow exception for persons whose employment is determined in the Secretary of Homeland Security’s discretion to be in the national interest of the United States. This new requirement went into effect […]
Posted on July 10, 2025 by Amy E. Ebeling, Jacob A. Schraeder and Bryce B. Ebben
As you may be aware, on July 4, 2025, a landmark piece of tax legislation – commonly referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – was signed into law, ushering in some of the most significant changes to the tax code in recent years. This sweeping bill touches nearly every corner of the tax […]
More Insights...