For invitations to our events and updates on key legal issues and business concerns:
Please Click HerePosted on October 6, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Some concern has been expressed regarding two issues with Wisconsin’s new carrying concealed weapons law that was published on July 22, 2011. First, there seems to be a question regarding the effective date of the law. Second, some property owners and business owners are wondering who the law applies to and believe they may be […]
Posted on August 25, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a Final Rule requiring employers to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Under the new rule, effective November 14, 2011, private-sector employers (including labor organizations) whose workplaces fall under the National Labor Relations Act will be required to post the employee rights […]
Posted on August 3, 2011 by Sara J. Ackermann
As we discussed in our previous E-alert “Are You Ready for Conceal and Carry?”, public and private sector employers are facing the question of prohibiting concealed weapons in their place of business. This question, however, lends itself to a number of other considerations for employers, such as: May employers distinguish between prohibitions for employees and […]
Posted on July 29, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Recently, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) and the Department of Labor (“DOL”) separately proposed new rules aimed at making unionization easier – ignoring the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” As explained below, the NLRB proposed a new set of representation pre-election procedures, popularly characterized as the “quickie election” rules, while […]
Posted on July 27, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has issued a decision in favor of an employer in a workers’ compensation case for unreasonable refusal to rehire. In doing so, the court emphasized that an employer is not required to make an accommodation to an employee’s personal obligations in order to escape liability under the unreasonable refusal to rehire […]
Posted on July 22, 2011 by Mary Ellen Schill
A recent memo from the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has clarified the timeline that local government units should use for deducting the required employee contribution to the Wisconsin Retirement System. In its memo, ETF has determined that the deductions should begin with the first full pay period which begins on or after […]
Posted on July 8, 2011 by Sara J. Ackermann
Today, at the Grand Lodge in Wausau, Governor Walker signed into law a bill that allows qualified individuals to carry concealed weapons, except in certain places such as courthouses and police stations. The law, which becomes effective on November 1, 2011, contains a number of provisions that will affect public and private employers in Wisconsin. […]
Posted on June 16, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Assembly passed its version of the Budget Bill early this morning. That version will now be submitted to the Senate for consideration. It is anticipated that the Senate will pass the Assembly version without change, but that remains to be seen. There are several changes to the Municipal Collective Bargaining Law as amended by […]
Posted on June 6, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased its enforcement of the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Previously in such claims, if the number of worked hours were disputed and an employee had kept hand written records of the hours that he or she allegedly worked, […]
Posted on May 2, 2011 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Wisconsin’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became law in 1987. The federal FMLA became law in 1993. As almost all Wisconsin human resources (HR) personnel are aware, provisions of the two laws differ in many ways. As a result, complying with both laws has been difficult at best and has caused many HR professionals […]