Filed Under: Employment & Labor Law Government Law Municipal Law
New Screening Tools and Compliance Obligations for Wisconsin Law Enforcement Agencies
Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have new tools to screen applicants for officer jobs as of November 7, 2021, which is the effective date of 2021 Wisconsin Act 82. A covered agency is any governmental unit of the State of Wisconsin or a political subdivision of the state that employs one or more law enforcement officers, […]
Filed Under: Employment & Labor Law Government Law
WERC Guidance on Budget Bill’s Health Insurance “Plan Design” Collective Bargaining Restrictions
In a closely watched case, a divided Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) held that a police association’s attempt to bargain over a health insurance plan’s deductibles was prohibited under language included in the new Budget Bill. The newly-created Wis. Stat. § 111.70(4)(mc)6 prohibits bargaining over “the design and selection of health care coverage plans” and […]
Filed Under: Employment & Labor Law Government Law
Understanding the Impact of the WRS Changes
While it’s been only a couple of months since the Budget Repair Bill and the State Budget became law, there is already an important arbitration decision on police contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and some changes to the WRS employee categories. This short report addresses these issues and ends with a short word […]
Filed Under: Employment & Labor Law
The Budget and Budget Repair Bills
Act 10, commonly referred to as the Budget Repair Bill, finally became effective on June 29, 2011. Combined with certain provisions of Act 32, the state Budget Bill, it is truly a new day for public sector labor relations in Wisconsin. While it is impossible to address all of the issues raised by the legislation […]
Filed Under: Business Law Employment & Labor Law
Updating Handbooks to Include Break Time for Nursing Mothers
Most employers are aware that federal law now requires them to provide a reasonable amount of unpaid break time to a nursing mother to express milk. Many, however, have yet to amend their handbooks to include a policy reflecting the federal law. This simple step should be done to ensure that employees are on notice […]
Filed Under: Business Law Employment & Labor Law
The New COBRA Subsidy Law – Action Steps
In our last Short Report, we outlined some of the key points of the new COBRA subsidy provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In this Short Report, we outline some of the steps employers should take to prepare for and implement those provisions. Brief Review The Act provides for a 65% […]
