Employment Law Update

Thursday, February 19, 2026

*Dates and times are subject to change.

Session 1: Navigating the New Frontier of Employment Law in 2026 – Federal Update

Erik Eisenmann, Husch Blackwell

The legal landscape for employers is undergoing a seismic shift as we move into 2026. From federal rollbacks on affirmative action and DEI, to bold new state-level reforms and the game-changing One Big Beautiful Bill Act, HR professionals face a rapidly evolving patchwork of laws and regulations. This session will decode the latest changes, spotlight the growing divide between state and federal approaches, and prepare you to lead confidently amidst uncertainty. Don’t get caught off guard—discover what’s next and how to stay compliant in this dynamic era.

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

The Ohio General Assembly and our big city governments always have their eye on the workplace.  Heading into 2026, the trend towards municipal involvement in employment law has continued, most notably with Cleveland and Columbus passing pay transparency measures.  At the state level, noncompete legislation has gotten the most attention, nothing has passed yet but we will check in on that.  We will also review recent developments including the Pay Stub Protection Act, the mini-WARN law, and pending legislation employers should keep their eye on.

Session 3E - 2026 Wisconsin State Legislative Update

Meg Kurlinski, Godfrey & Kahn

Join employment attorney Meg Kurlinski for a fast-paced, practical update on Wisconsin’s evolving employment law landscape. This session will cover the most impactful state and local legislative developments of the past year, key Wisconsin case law, and proposed measures on the horizon. Meg will translate complex legal changes into actionable takeaways, helping HR professionals navigate compliance challenges with confidence. Attendees will also hear how these developments intersect with broader trends affecting Midwest employers and learn what to watch for in 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.

As immigration policy and worksite enforcement continue to evolve, HR teams must be prepared for rapid change in 2026. This session breaks down the latest developments in Form I-9 compliance, work authorization, and federal enforcement priorities, along with practical ways to strengthen organizational readiness. Key updates to visa programs, including potential H-1B fee and lottery changes, will also be highlighted. Attendees will leave with actionable steps and quick self-audit tips they can apply immediately.

Session 4B - Navigating the Pitfalls of Social Media in the Workplace in our Evolving Cultural Landscape

Frances Haas, Nyemaster Goode

In this session, we will cover an employer’s powers, risks, and potential liability exposure related to employee social media use. This will cover legal risks arising under state and federal anti-discrimination laws and the National Labor Relations Act, and other applicable laws. We will contextualize legal risks with examples of social media issues drawn from real-life examples. We will also take into account the non-legal risks that arise in this area, such as damage to reputation, morale, and potential collective activity.

Session 5A - Performance Management & the Pitfalls of Termination

Cynthia Bremer & Jody Ward-Rannow, Ogletree Deakins

Even the most well-intentioned employers can stumble when navigating performance issues and terminations. This session takes a practical look at where things go wrong, and how to get them right. Learn how to avoid common missteps, strengthen documentation, and protect your organization from costly claims. Through real-world examples and current legal trends, we’ll explore what “termination done right” really looks like, safety and supervisor considerations, and share best practices to ensure your performance management process supports both compliance and fairness.

Session 5B - Decoding the FLSA:  A Practical Guide to Wage & Hour Law Compliance

Joel Aziere, Buelow Vetter

Navigating wage and hour laws can be complex, but understanding the rules is essential to minimizing risk and staying compliant. This session provides a practical guide to classifying employees as exempt or nonexempt, handling payroll deductions, and managing salary reductions for personal leave, PTO, or FMLA absences. Participants will review recent federal updates and state-level variations in wage and hour compliance across the Midwest. Identify common pitfalls in timekeeping, overtime and salary basis compliance, and gain actionable strategies to reduce risk in policy design, documentation and payroll administration.

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. The Mid-Year Employment Law Update is offered in person only, with no recordings or virtual participation option.

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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