Employment Law Update

Thursday, February 19, 2026

*Dates and times are subject to change.

Session 1: Employment Law Year in Review & What to Anticipate in 2026

Erik Eisenmann, Husch Blackwell

As the legal landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation, HR professionals must stay ahead of the curve to effectively manage their organizations. This session delves into the sweeping changes in federal regulations, tax incentives, and state-level reforms that will redefine the workplace in the coming year. Gain insights from industry experts on the implications of affirmative action rollbacks, the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the shifting enforcement priorities of key agencies. Explore strategies to navigate the retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and anticipate the emerging trends that will shape the future of employment law.

Session 2A: Leave Laws Untangled: Making Sense of FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and More

Katharine Weber, Jackson Lewis

Managing employee leave has never been more complex. This session will help HR professionals make sense of how FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, and PWFA intersect—and how to stay compliant when these protections overlap. Learn about key state and federal developments, including new paid leave and sick leave laws, and gain practical strategies for documentation, communication, and tracking multiple leave entitlements. Walk away with tools to simplify leave management and prepare your organization for emerging trends in employee leave protections.

Session 3A - 2026 Illinois State Legislative Update

Rob Bernstein, Laner Muchin

Illinois employers face another year of significant legal change. New and emerging regulations address pay transparency, evolving leave protections, and the responsible use of AI in employment decisions. Updates to wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, and employee classification laws also require attention. This session will highlight the most critical developments for 2026 and provide practical guidance to help HR professionals stay compliant and prepared.

Session 3B - 2026 Iowa State Legislative Update

Iowa employers face key regulatory changes impacting employment practices and compliance obligations. This session will highlight major updates including new unemployment insurance tax reforms, altered protections under the state civil-rights law, and evolving employer-workforce rules taking effect this year. You’ll learn practical strategies for updating policies, training managers, and maintaining compliance in the face of shifting state mandates.

Session 3C - 2026 Minnesota State Legislative Update

Krista Hatcher, Fredrikson Law

Minnesota employers are entering a phase of major change — with the rollout of statewide paid family and medical leave starting January 1, 2026, strengthened meal and rest break requirements, and clarified earned sick and safe time rules. You’ll learn how these changes, along with evolving pay transparency, classification, and compliance obligations, affect your policies, practices, and training. This session will highlight the most important updates, call out key action items for HR teams, and help you prioritize what to tackle now and what to watch for ahead.

Session 3D - 2026 Ohio State Legislative Update

Bill Nolan, Barnes & Thornburg

Ohio employers are navigating a period of evolving workplace regulation, where shifts in local pay history laws, wage-hour transparency, and digital compliance tools must be on your radar. Key developments include new requirements for paystub detail and the allowance of digital posting of labor-law notices as of mid-2025. This session will highlight the most significant changes affecting HR teams in Ohio and provide practical steps to update your policies, payroll practices, and manager training accordingly.

Session 3E - 2026 Wisconsin State Legislative Update

Meg Kurlinski, Godfrey & Kahn

Wisconsin employers should be prepared for evolving employment–law issues, including heightened scrutiny of restrictive covenants, emerging leave-law developments, and discrimination protections in private and public sectors. This session will cover key recent updates—such as legislative activity around unemployment insurance, classification of workers, and public-sector labor changes—and what’s on the horizon for 2026.

Session 4A - Preparing for What’s Next: Worksite and Workforce Readiness and Immigration Compliance in 2026

Gene Schaeffer & Rebeca López, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Stay ahead of changing immigration laws and their impact on employment practices. This session will cover current federal enforcement priorities, strategies for managing a diverse workforce with varying immigration statuses, and best practices for I-9 compliance and work authorization tracking. Gain practical insights on supporting non-citizen employees while maintaining legal compliance in today’s complex regulatory environment.

Session 5B - Wage and Hour Issues

Joel Aziere, Buelow Vetter

Wage and hour compliance continues to challenge even the most experienced HR professionals. This session breaks down the key differences between exempt and nonexempt employees, payroll practices around PTO deductions and reimbursements, and how FMLA and salary basis rules intersect. You’ll gain clarity on both federal updates and state-level variations across the Midwest, along with common employer pitfalls in timekeeping and overtime. Leave with practical strategies to strengthen your pay policies, documentation, and payroll administration to reduce compliance risk.

Session 6 - Living La Vida Loca: What to Do When Power is the Problem

Scott LeBlanc, Husch Blackwell

When those in power cross the line, HR faces one of its toughest challenges—holding leaders accountable while protecting the organization. This session explores how to manage conflicts of interest, misconduct, and inappropriate behavior at the executive or HR level, drawing lessons from high-profile cases that made headlines. Learn best practices for investigating leadership with impartiality and discretion, when to involve outside counsel or third-party investigators, and how to safeguard your organization’s culture and credibility. Walk away with practical strategies to navigate sensitive power dynamics and build policies that ensure accountability at every level.

Join us for MRA’s 2026 Virtual Employment Law Update AND our newly added, in-person Mid-Year Employment Law Updates, coming to your state in summer!

Employment laws are evolving faster than ever, and new developments don’t always wait for year-end. That’s why we’ve added a mid-year option to help you stay current on emerging legislation, regulatory shifts, and court decisions as they happen.

Led by trusted Midwest-based employment attorneys, these half-day updates provide timely insights into both federal and state laws, equipping HR professionals and organizations with practical strategies to stay compliant and prepared.

The Mid-Year Employment Law Update will be hosted in five cities across the Midwest in summer 2026.

Stay informed, stay compliant, and save with this great bundle option!

Register to secure your spot!

Learn more, save more, stay ahead.
Register early and bundle your registration for maximum savings, including access to the virtual Employment Law Update on February 19, 2026 and our newly announced in-person Mid-Year Employment Law Updates coming to your state in summer.

Invest once, save more, and get all the strategic employment-law insights your HR team needs.

February 19, 2026: Employment Law Update (virtual event only)

Bundle & Save! Pricing includes:

• Virtual Employment Law Update (February 19, 2026)

• Mid-Year Employment Law Update (in-person next summer)

Mid-Year Employment Law Update (in-person event only)

Registration opens 2/20/26

HRCI and SHRM credits, and CLEs applied for.

February 19, 2026: Employment Law Update
(virtual event only)

Register Here!

Bundle: Employment Law Update (virtual event) &
Mid-Year Employment Law Update (in-person event)

Register Here!

Sponsoring MRA events is a tremendous opportunity to bring your message of business value to our growing membership of organizations HR professionals and business leaders. Our members represent all industries including manufacturing, service, distribution, finance, and health care! 80% of event attendees are new at each event offering you the opportunity to network with new contacts. We are very excited about the event this year and hope you can join us! 

For more information on sponsorship, call Laura Kielbasa at 262.696.3346 or [email protected].

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