Human Resources Counseling
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 currently 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:
- Disability accommodation & leave management
- Wage and Hour
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Employee privacy
- Nondiscrimination
- Workforce Restructuring & Reductions in Force
- FMLA/ADA Solutions
- International Employment
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Workplace Harassment
- Background investigations and pre-employment screening
- Workplace investigations into employee misconduct
- Training for executives, managers and employees (including harassment prevention and social media)
- Employee handbooks and policies
- Employment contracts and arbitration agreements
- Protection of trade secrets and confidential information, and drafting non-disclosure and non-competition agreements
- Severance agreements
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 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 January 13, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
Today the Supreme Court ordered that OSHA’s ETS be placed back on hold (a/k/a a “stay”) and sent back to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. In its order, the Court‘s majority noted the ETS may have gone too far because it required employers to remedy a “public health” concern: The Solicitor General does not […]
Posted on January 11, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann
As you all know, last Friday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding whether the OSHA ETS vaccine mandate should be upheld. The Court has not yet issued a ruling on this issue. As of January 10, large employers need to be in compliance with all ETS requirements. If an employer can show it is […]
Posted on December 23, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
One quick e-alert before you are off for some holiday cheer! OSHA just added new FAQs to its ETS webpage. We do not have time to go into detail as our elves are leaving for the day—however, please review new questions in Section 6 regarding testing. The link can be found here. Have a safe […]
Posted on December 23, 2021 by Nicole L. Stangl, Sara J. Ackermann and Mary Ellen Schill
The Supreme Court has announced that it will hear oral arguments on both the OSHA ETS vaccine mandate and the CMS vaccine mandate on January 7, 2022. On December 17, 2021, we shared with you that the Fifth Circuit limited the scope of the injunction related to the CMS Mandate, which meant that 26 states […]
Posted on December 17, 2021 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2022, and the increased rates reflect the increase in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle, primarily due to increased gas prices. Effective January 1, 2022, […]
Posted on November 16, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
On November 16, 2021, a panel on multidistrict litigation announced that a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will hear the OSHA ETS litigation. All petitions that have been filed will be consolidated to the Sixth Circuit in accordance with the Consolidation Order signed today. What does […]
Posted on November 8, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
On November 6, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted OSHA’s latest ETS by issuing an order staying the ETS until the court can conduct a full review. BST Holdings v. OSHA (5th Cir 11/06/2021). The order states: Before the court is the petitioners’ emergency motion to stay enforcement of the Occupational Safety […]
Posted on November 4, 2021 by Mary Ellen Schill
On November 4, 2021 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. The vast majority 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 2021 – $19,500 2022 – $20,500 $200,000 compensation limit 2021 – […]
Posted on November 4, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann, Nicole L. Stangl and Mary Ellen Schill
OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is here! The ETS and related guidance can be found on its website. By December 5, 2021, employers must implement a vaccine policy in compliance with the ETS (choices are a hard mandate or a soft mandate) and advise employees as to whether or not testing will be an alternative […]
Posted on October 26, 2021 by Sara J. Ackermann
Yesterday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) added more FAQs to its COVID guidance to what is becoming a very long list that started months ago. The EEOC highlights the additional religious exemption guidance as follows: Employees and applicants must inform their employers if they seek an exception to an employer’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement due […]
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