US Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Tipped Workers

On October 28, 2021, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued its Final Rule on tipped workers, establishing when tipped employees can be paid less than the federal minimum wage, an issue that has been in a state of flux over the last several years. The Final Rule will take effect on December 28, 2021. […]

Dane County Face Covering Emergency Order #4

Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued Face Covering Emergency Order #4. The new order is effective November 5, 2021. The only change from the previous order (see Lake Effect’s summary of the previous orders here) is to extend the face covering requirements until November 27, 2021. At this time, PHMDC plans to let […]

EEOC Provides Additional Guidance on Religious Objections to Vaccine Mandates

Lake Effect HR Law

On October 25, 2021, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 Technical Assistance to specifically address religious objections to employer vaccine mandates. The update provides employers with additional guidance regarding their Title VII obligation to accommodate employees who request exceptions to vaccination requirements based upon religious beliefs. Key updates in Section L. Vaccinations – Title VII and […]

Provisions of Final Tip Pool Rule Effective November 23, 2021

The U.S. Department of Labor’s latest final tip pool rule provisions will take effect on November 23, 2021. For further discussion on other provisions of the final rule that were implemented in April 2021, please see Lake Effect’s prior blog on this topic. The following provisions of the final tip pool rule will take effect […]

Dane County Face Covering Emergency Order #3

Lake Effect HR Law Updates

Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued Face Covering Emergency Order #3. The new order is effective October 8, 2021. The only change from the previous order (see Lake Effect’s summary of the previous orders here) is to extend the face covering requirements through November 5, 2021. Lake Effect is here to answer your […]

Dane County Face Covering Emergency Order #2

Lake Effect Mask Mandate

Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) has issued Face Covering Emergency Order #2, effective September 10, 2021 through October 8, 2021. The new order is substantially the same as the previous order issued last month. The only changes are two exceptions have been added to the situations in which an individual may remove their […]

Employers Take Heed: Deadline is Near for COBRA Premium Assistance Notices

Lake Effect HR Law

As detailed in Lake Effect’s prior blog post, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) includes provisions requiring employers to temporarily subsidize the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for certain “Assistance Eligible Employees” from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Employers or plan issuers must pay premiums on behalf of such individuals and will be […]

IL Passes Law Restricting Non-Competes and Non-Solicitation Agreements

Lake Effect Employment Law

On August 13, 2021 Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law broad restrictions on employee non-competes and non-solicitation agreements. The non-solicit restrictions apply to employer’s customers, as well as other employees. The new law applies to agreements executed with an employee on or after January 1, 2022. As of that date, the law bans: Non-competes with […]

Updated OSHA Guidance to Continue Workplace Health and Safety Measures

Lake Effect Employment Law

On August 13, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its guidance for all employers to reflect the CDC’s July 27, 2021 recommendations on masks and testing for fully-vaccinated individuals. As with the prior guidance on COVID-19, this updated OSHA guidance is not a standard or regulation and creates no new legal obligations. […]