COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon: What does it mean for employers?
On December 10, 2020, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will meet to review Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and recommend whether to authorize its emergency use in the United States. Moderna is also seeking FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, and dozens of other pharmaceutical companies are in the process of […]
Wisconsin Judge Reinstates Emergency Order Restricting Indoor Gatherings
Update 11/06/2020 The Governor’s Emergency Order #3, which limited indoor gatherings throughout Wisconsin, expired on November 6, 2020. On the same day, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a lower court should have issued an injunction blocking enforcement of the Emergency Order. Update 10/26/2020 The statewide indoor capacity restrictions in Emergency Order #3 are not […]
Review Employee Voting Rights As Elections Near
As we near the end of October, federal, state, and local elections are right around the corner. It is a good time for employers to review relevant policies and legal obligations towards employees who seek time off to vote or otherwise participate in the election process. Under Wisconsin law, an employee who is entitled to […]
DOL Announces Proposed Rule on Independent Contractor Status under the FLSA
On September 22, 2020, the US Department of Labor proposed a new rule to clarify whether a worker will be classified as an independent contractor or an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The proposed rule will be available for review and public comments for 30 days after it is published in the […]
Public Health Madison Dane County Issues Emergency Order #9
UPDATE On September 1, 2020, PHMDC released Emergency Order #9 Amendment. The only change made to Emergency Order #9 was to allow for in-person instruction for students in any grade with a disability and/or with an IEP who may need to receive in-person instruction. This change is reflected in paragraph 4.d. on page 5 of […]
DOL and HSA Updates
Over the past several months, most businesses and organizations have been focused on the ever-changing landscape created by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal agencies have been busy implementing new and amended regulations affecting employers. Here are the recent HR and employment law updates you really need […]
U.S. Supreme Court Rules on LGBTQIA Workplace Protections
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that federal law prohibits employers from firing an individual merely for being gay or transgender. Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, 590 U.S. ___ (2020). Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers may not discriminate against any individual because of race, religion, national origin, or sex. The […]
Reopening your Firm Carefully and Compassionately in the COVID-19 Era
DWD’s Work-Share Program: Another Option to Avoid Layoffs
As employers evaluate options to address the impact of COVID-19 on their organizations, Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is encouraging participation in its Work-Share Program. The Work-Share Program is designed to help employers avoid layoffs of at least two employees by reducing employees’ hours during slow business periods of up to six months. The […]
EEOC Updates ADA Accommodations and EEO Reporting
On May 7, 2020, the EEOC updated an existing technical assistance publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other EEO Laws.” New questions and answers on “Return to Work” address an employer’s obligations to accommodate employees with underlying medical conditions as they begin to return to the workplace […]
