On September 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification announced that certain H-2A employers may become responsible for retroactive wage adjustments after the Department adopts a new methodology for calculating Adverse Effect Wage Rates.
The announcement follows an August 26, 2026 order in United Farm Workers, et al. v. DOL, et al., No. 25-cv-01614-KES-EGC. The court held that the DOL’s October 2025 interim-final-rule methodology is unlawful but has left the rule and existing AEWRs
Continue Reading H-2A Employers Face Potential Backpay Exposure Under Court-Ordered AEWR Changes
Latest from Ruder Ware News & Insights
Closing Time for the Corporate Transparency Act
On August 11, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a final rule that permanently terminated the Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) beneficial ownership reporting requirements for U.S. companies and citizens.
FinCEN also stated that it will delete all information U.S. citizens previously submitted to the beneficial ownership information database.
This development likely marks the end of the CTA’s tumultuous enforcement history.
If you have questions about this update, please contact your Ruder Ware attorney or the article authors,
Continue Reading Closing Time for the Corporate Transparency Act
Understanding the Functional Screen Test
July 23, 2026
When applying for Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care programs, financial eligibility is only part of the process. Individuals must also demonstrate that they meet the required level of care through what is known as the functional screen test.
The functional screen is a standardized assessment used in Wisconsin to determine whether an individual qualifies for Medicaid-funded long-term care services. Rather than focusing on finances, the screening evaluates a person’s ability to safely care for themselves and function
On the Move: IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rates Mid-Year
July 17, 2026
Due to the sustained increase in the price of fuel, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has increased the optional standard mileage rates mid-year for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses.
Effective July 1, 2026, the optional standard mileage rates are 76 cents per mile for business transportation, and 23.5 cents per mile for travel relating to medical and moving transportation expenses.
These increased mileage rates apply only
Continue Reading On the Move: IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rates Mid-Year
How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost and How Do I Pay for It?
By McKenna K. Coffeen | Elder Law
July 8, 2026
One of the most common concerns families face when discussing long-term care is cost. Whether care is provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home, long-term care expenses can become significant very quickly.
In Wisconsin, nursing home care can cost thousands of dollars each month, and even part-time in-home assistance may create substantial financial strain over time. Because Medicare coverage for long-term care is
Continue Reading How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost and How Do I Pay for It?
What is Long Term Care?
When a loved one begins to need help with daily activities, families often face difficult decisions about care. Long-term care is not limited to nursing homes—it includes a wide range of services that help individuals manage daily living when age, illness, disability, or cognitive decline makes independent living difficult.
Long-term care may include help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, toileting, medication management, meal preparation, and supervision for individuals with memory loss or cognitive impairment. 
For many families, staying at
Continue Reading What is Long Term Care?
2026 Estate Planning 101
<!–window.jQuery || document.write(”)–>
Continue Reading 2026 Estate Planning 101
2027 HSA Limits Are Announced
On May 29, 2026, the IRS announced the Health Savings Account limits for 2027. With respect to contribution limits, and reflecting the inflationary environment, the limits are higher than the ones for 2026 and the required deductible and out-of-pocket maximums have increased as well. As a reminder, these inflation adjusted amounts are effective for calendar year 2027.
HSA/HDHP Requirement
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP
2026 – $4,400
2027 – $4,500
Limit on HSA Contributions –
Continue Reading 2027 HSA Limits Are Announced
Proposed EEOC Rule Signals Shift in Reporting Requirements
On May 14, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) submitted a proposal to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (“OIRA”) seeking to rescind EEO-1 reporting requirements for all eligible employers, along with EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4, and EEO-5 data collection, and reporting requirements under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
EEO-1 reporting requirements obligate private employers with more than 100
Continue Reading Proposed EEOC Rule Signals Shift in Reporting Requirements
Attorney Amy Ebeling Elected to Board of Directors of Meritas
April 30, 2026
Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Amy Ebeling has been elected to the board of directors of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms that serves the legal needs of companies across major jurisdictions and global markets. Ebeling was elected to the position from the more than 9,200 attorneys in the Meritas member network and will serve a three-year term with six other lawyers from around the world.
“Amy is a proven
Continue Reading Attorney Amy Ebeling Elected to Board of Directors of Meritas
Attorney Amy Ebeling Named Wisconsin Law Journal Women in the Law Honoree
<!–window.jQuery || document.write(”)–>
Continue Reading Attorney Amy Ebeling Named Wisconsin Law Journal Women in the Law Honoree
Green Bay Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026
Date and Time: April 16, 2026 7:30 am
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Green Bay1015 Lombardi AvenueGreen Bay, WI 54304
Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
<!–Morgan H. Sweeney–>
<!–Presentation–>
Our Employment & Benefits Team is excited to invite you to one of our most popular, long-standing conferences. Designed for HR professionals, this event offers practical, actionable insights to help HR teams make informed
Continue Reading Green Bay Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026
Eau Claire Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026
Date and Time: April 7, 2026 8:00 am
Location: The Florian Gardens2340 Lorch AvenueEau Claire, WI 54701 United States
Event will be held in the Silverleaf Ballroom – located on the right side of the building if you enter through the front doors.
Presenters:
Sara J. Ackermann, Samuel J. S. Moheban, Mary Ellen Schill, Nicole L. Stangl, Morgan H. Sweeney
<!–Morgan H. Sweeney–>
<!–Presentation–>
Ruder Ware and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering
Continue Reading Eau Claire Annual Employment & Benefits Conference 2026
Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Ruder Ware is pleased to announce that Attorney Shanna Fink, has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Membership is limited to just one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and selected by the ABF Board.
The ABF Fellows is a global honorary society that recognizes attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles
Continue Reading Attorney Shanna Fink Elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap lottery will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19. The registration fee for this year is $215 per registration.
New Weighted Selection Process
This year marks the first use of USCIS’s new weighted H-1B selection process. If the number of registrations exceeds the annual cap and a
Continue Reading USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO
Join us in congratulating Felicia Krueger on her promotion to COO. For more than ten years, Felicia has guided our accounting team with a focus on practical solutions and knowledge sharing, driving continuous improvement across the firm. She succeeds Jamie Schaefer, who recently retired from the COO role. Learn more about Felicia.The post Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO first appeared on Wisconsin Business Attorneys.
Continue Reading Felicia Krueger Promoted to COO