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. 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.
Posted on October 21, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill
On October 21, 2022 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. All of the limits shown below have increased (in some cases significantly) from last year. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2022 – $20,500 2023 – $22,500 $200,000 compensation limit […]
Posted on October 20, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
Recently, we have been fielding a fair number of inquiries from clients who have been approached by third parties urging them to claim the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”). The ERC, which the federal government enacted back in 2020 to help blunt the economic impact of COVID-19, is a refundable tax credit designed to reward businesses […]
Posted on October 19, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann
Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a new poster that is required for employers covered by Title VII. The new poster is entitled “Know Your Rights” and includes these changes: Notes that harassment is a prohibited form of discrimination; Clarifies that sex discrimination includes discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or […]
Posted on October 5, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann and Kelly T. Wilfert
Do you have employees in the Viking state? If so, keep reading! On July 1, 2022, Minnesota adopted a new law legalizing the sale, purchase, and consumption of edible cannabinoid products to people aged 21 and over. The law legalized the use of edible cannabinoid products made from substances extracted from certified hemp plants. The […]
Posted on August 17, 2022 by Nicole L. Stangl
The Fair Labor Standards Act provides an employee should receive compensation for overtime hours at a rate “not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed.” 29 U.S.C. § 207(a)(1). This is a well-known principle by employers and employees alike. However, “regular rate” is not the same as the […]
Posted on June 9, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill
Due to the increase in the cost of gasoline since establishing the 2022 rates last year, the Internal Revenue Service is increasing mid-year the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses. Effective July 1, 2022, the optional standard mileage rates will be 62.5 […]
Posted on May 26, 2022 by Sara J. Ackermann
Recently, we have been fielding calls from clients regarding “remote” Form I-9 verification. The current rule is that employers can ONLY verify I-9 forms remotely for employees who are remote due to COVID -19. For the curious, read our FAQ below: 1. What was the rule pre-COVID? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ALWAYS […]
Posted on April 29, 2022 by Mary Ellen Schill
On April 29, 2022, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2023. With respect to contribution limits, the limits are higher than the ones for 2022 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2023 HSA/HDHP Requirement Cost-of-Living […]
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 “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 dispute […]
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 […]
More Insights...
