Kristin Case January 24, 2021 Coronavirus, Employee Rights 0
With the recent rollouts of the first available vaccines, one of the questions we have heard a lot of lately is: Can my employer require me to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Late last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released updated guidance on the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees related to the COVID-19 vaccine. You might remember this …
Kristin Case April 13, 2020 Blog, Coronavirus, Uncategorized, Unemployment 0
An unprecedented number of employees have found themselves needing unemployment benefits during this time of crisis. Many employees we have talked with have been temporarily laid off or “furloughed” but expect to return to work. Others, still, have lost their jobs entirely. The Illinois Department of Employment Security has published a list of Frequently Asked Questions that is helpful in …
Kristin Case April 7, 2020 Coronavirus 4
We’ve received lots of questions from employees about the coronavirus and their rights under the new Coronavirus Response Act. To say that things are murky right now would be an understatement. It’s no wonder employees are confused. Below are some answers to common questions:
Q: Can my employer force me to come into the workplace?
A: It depends. If you work in …
Kristin Case March 27, 2020 Employment Law 0
For those bored at home and needing a little “light” reading, the EEOC has issued Covid-19 guidance for employees and has also updated its 2009 Pandemic in the Workplace Guidance (who knew there was such guidance?) These two pieces basically explain how the EEOC anticipates the Americans with Disabilities Act applying to Covid-19 situations in the workplace and answers some …
Kristin Case March 23, 2020 Uncategorized 0
Congress passes Coronavirus Response Act to help employees weather this storm.
In addition to changing the way we work, the coronavirus has also created tension and unease (to put it mildly) for employees and business owners everywhere. The fact that we are all in this together does little to ease the mind of an employee worrying about losing her job or …
Kristin Case February 24, 2020 Uncategorized 0
I love reading books and listening to podcasts about workplace happiness. I am fascinated by the microcosms that are our offices and what makes people happy or unhappy in them. In our business, we see a lot of what makes people unhappy. Oftentimes the issues our clients come to us with are blatant (discrimination, retaliation, etc) but, other times, we …
Kristin Case May 6, 2019 Blog, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Violence 0
Employees can be the first line of defense against workplace violence but only if they know what to look for and what to do about it.
On February 15 an employee at an Aurora, Illinois manufacturing plant walked into work believing he was going to be fired that day. Those of us in the Chicagoland area know what happened after that–he …
Kristin Case April 12, 2019 Blog 0
Early indicators say yes.
Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of serving as a moderator at the American Bar Association’s 2019 National Symposium of Technology in Labor and Employment Law. I moderated a panel of three brilliant lawyers talking about Artificial Intelligence in the workplace. And, as those of us in attendance learned, it’s a brave new world out there.
A picture …
Kristin Case August 13, 2018 Blog 0
Perhaps you saw the news this weekend that on the eve of launching her new book, Omarosa Manigault Newman (former White House political aide and reality-TV alum) has produced what she contends is a secret workplace recording of White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, firing her. Just this morning Omarosa released another tape which appears to be President Trump …
Kristin Case July 26, 2018 Blog, Disability Benefits, FMLA and ERISA, Disability Discrimination and Failure to Accommodate 0
The ADA turns 28 today.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 28 years ago today by President George H.W. Bush. (Remember when we used to have presidents who believed people with disabilities were worthy of respect and protection rather than ridicule?)
Since 1990 the Act has provided people with disabilities protections from discrimination at work and access …