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Please Click HerePosted on June 11, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
As of May 26, 2010, Wisconsin law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who do not wish to attend religious or political meetings, or take part in any communication regarding religious or political matters. If an employee refuses to attend a religious or political meeting or participate in communications on such matters at the request […]
Posted on June 11, 2009 by Sara J. Ackermann
On Monday, June 8, 2009, Governor Doyle signed 2009 Wisconsin Act 20 (“the Act”), which amends the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (“WFEA”) by permitting employees in employment discrimination, unfair genetic testing, and unfair honesty testing cases to seek and be awarded compensatory and punitive damages. Before this law, employees in Wisconsin were only entitled to […]
Posted on May 18, 2009 by Sara J. Ackermann
In a recent informal opinion letter, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) held that an employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) when it required employees to undertake a health risk assessment (“HRA”) as a condition of participating in the employer s group health plan. Facts: The employer had implemented an HRA which included […]
Posted on March 23, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) revisions to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations became effective January 16, 2009. The revisions are extensive. Significant changes were made that impact an employer’s responsibilities under the law. In addition to adopting regulations that implement the new military call-to-duty and military caregiver FMLA leaves, the important […]
Posted on March 5, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
At the end of 2008, it is estimated that the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) lost $18.6 billion as a result of the turndown in the economy. This estimate reflects a -26.2% return in 2008. In light of these losses, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds board, Mr. David Stella, reported that […]
Posted on February 11, 2009 by Sara J. Ackermann
On February 6, just four days before Milwaukee’s sick-pay ordinance was scheduled to go into effect, a Milwaukee County circuit court judge granted a temporary injunction sought by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. This means the ordinance is stayed pending a hearing on a permanent injunction now scheduled for May 11, 2009. Under the […]
Posted on February 10, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
In a recent case, Phillips v. Mathews, 547 F.3d 905 (8th Cir. 2008), the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an employer did not violate the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when it terminated an employee after she failed to show up for work, even though the employer had sufficient notice that […]
Posted on February 10, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
2009 Senate Bill 46 was submitted in the Wisconsin State Senate on February 5, 2009. If adopted, the Bill will affect grievance arbitration and complying with fair-share agreements in collective bargaining agreements during contract hiatus. Under the current Municipal Employment Relations Act (MERA), an employer must maintain the status quo during contract negotiations (i.e., commonly […]
Posted on February 4, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
We wish to alert you to a pending Wisconsin Senate Bill which could have a devastating impact on employers if it becomes law. The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) protects employees and job applicants from discrimination on certain protected grounds, such as age, sex, race, disability, marital status, arrest or conviction record, etc. Under the […]
Posted on February 2, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Employers must complete a Form I-9 (i.e., immigration) for all newly hired employees. We previously provided you with information in regard to the new I-9 form and the date it would be effective, today, February 2, 2009. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has delayed, by 60 days, until April […]