Recognizing An Employer Doing Right

We just wanted to start the weekend off on a positive note this morning.  So instead of posting about the unjust, unfair, or plain old ugly side of the working world, today we are shining a light on one of the good guys.

I’m sure that by now, many of you have heard that Costco is a …

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Widespread Retaliation Against NFL Player After Report of Workplace Harassment

With all of the celebrity and fanfare that surrounds professional football players it is, at times, hard to remember that they are employees just like the rest of us. Perhaps that explains the multitude of truly harsh and inappropriate reactions to the Richie Incognito controversy.  For anyone who hasn’t already heard the story, Miami Dolphins …

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Debate Ended on Employment Non-Discrimination Act; Time for a Vote!

On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted 61-30 to end debate on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (a bill which would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity) and bring it up for a vote.  The full Senate is expected to consider the bill today for the first time since …

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A Step in the Right Direction for Marriage Equality

With the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act passing the Illinois house today, Illinois is one step closer to marriage equality!  The House has been the biggest hurdle in the campaign for equal rights and now all that remains is for the Senate to agree with the House’s version of the bill …

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy Lives On

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  Crowds gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to hear remarks from President Obama along with other, prominent figures such as Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey.  People from around the country …

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Show Your Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act!

I just wanted to drop a quick line to say how excited we are that ENDA has been passed out of committee by an overwhelming majority (15 to 7, including at least two Republican supporters).  ENDA is short-hand for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which aims to make discrimination on the basis of LGBT status unlawful.

Now …

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Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense of Marriage Act:Implications for Gay Spouses under the Family Medical Leave Act

Last Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in the landmark 5-4 decision of United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) as unconstitutional.  Signed into law in September 1996, DOMA defined marriage as …

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Bad Day for Employees: Supreme Court Applies But For Causation Standard to Title VII Retaliation

This is just a quick update on an important case we mentioned early this year and that we suggested was one to follow.  In University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Naiel Nassar, the Supreme Court of the United States considered whether an employee alleging retaliation …

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Employment Noncompete Agreement Act under Consideration in the Illinois General Assembly

Non-compete agreements are mechanisms used by employers to limit an employee’s ability to work for a competitor for a period of time after the employment relationship terminates.  Employees typically sign these agreements as a condition of hire.  Employers are increasingly relying on non-competes to protect any competitive advantage they may …

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States Passing Preemptive Bills to Prevent Passage of Paid Sick Leave Laws

I am consistently surprised by the number of people I speak with (friends, family members, and clients alike) who simply assume that employers are obligated to provide employees with paid sick leave.  I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by this.  For those who have been lucky enough to work …

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