Employee Benefits

Supreme Court Nixes OSHA Vax, Upholds Health Worker Mandate

On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court blocked the OSHA ETS rule, which mandated private employers with at least 100 employees require their employees to be fully vaccinated or submit to a weekly COVID test and wear face masks.  Six of the Court’s nine justices held that the ETS constituted an attempt by OSHA to regulate general...

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Congress Declines to Extend Mandated FFCRA Leave Beyond December 31 But Provides Tax Credit to Employers Who Voluntarily Extend Paid Leave

Note: This client update is based on the stimulus bill passed by Congress and sent to the President for signature earlier this week. This bill is not law until the President signs the legislation, and recent news reports suggest that President Trump finds some portions of the stimulus bill objectionable. We will continue to monitor the status of...

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Maintaining Workplace Civility in an Era of Heightened Divide

Maintaining Workplace Civility in an Era of Heightened Divide

"Do as adversaries do in law, strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends." William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act I, sc. 2 In the aftermath of the historic and divisive election, many of us welcome an end to the besiegement of ads, media commentaries, Facebook and Twitter postings, etc. that are not only uncivil, but in many cases...

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New Employer Notification Requirement to Employees of Unemployment Benefit Rights

Wisconsin Employers mark your calendar. As of November 2, 2020, all employers covered by Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) law must provide employees with written notice regarding the availability of UI benefits upon a change in employment status. The new requirement applies when work hours are reduced, layoff, furlough, or separation –...

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“Health Care Providers” Under the FFCRA: Department of Labor Revises the Regulation and Focuses the Field of Employees Eligible for Leave

By: Anne V. O'Meara, Laurie E. Meyer, and Anthony J. Steffek On September 11, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its second interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The new DOL rule, which took effect on September 16, revised the original rule’s definition of “health care provider” to provide up to twelve...

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Claiming Tax Credits For Paid Leave Under The Emergency Family And Medical Leave Act And The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act

By: Mark G. Kmiecik and James M. Kalny The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Act”) provides two new refundable payroll tax credits (“tax credits”) for employers providing paid emergency sick leave or paid FMLA, including tax relief for self-employed individuals. As written, however, the Act is not practical as to these tax credits, since...

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