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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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Plaintiffs in Unsuccessful Class Action Pursue Individual Claims

After seeing their nation-wide gender discrimination class action dismissed by the Supreme Court of the United States, the Wal-Mart Plaintiffs did not just throw up their hands and concede defeat.  Instead, they’ve decided that if the highest court will not allow them to proceed as one large nation-wide class, that they will simply have to enforce their …

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Voluntary Classification Settlement Program Aims to Resolve Employee Misclassification as Independent Contractors

The IRS has recently implemented a program called the “Voluntary Classification Settlement Program” (“VCSP”).  The program allows eligible employers to pay a small sum in order to obtain partial relief from federal employment taxes for previous mis-characterizations of workers as “independent contractors” when such individuals should have received classification …

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Add Your Voice to the Call to End Unemployment Discrimination in Illinois

As appalling as it may be, a shocking number of employers these days are publishing job listings with the caveat that the unemployed need not apply.  This unemployment discrimination is so backwards and plain old wrong that I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it.  We are …

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An Inspiring Article about the Struggles of Coming Out at Work

Earlier this week Rick Welts, the former Executive Vice President of the NBA and the current President and Chief Executive of the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team, opened up about his sexuality.  After decades of living what the New York Times refers to as a “shadow life,” he felt it was time …

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Vote Yes for SB 128 – Healthy Workplace Act – Senator Sandoval

This bill would provide for paid sick leave for Illinois workers.

Requires an employer to provide an employee up to 7 sick days with pay during each 12-month period. Provides that an employee may use the sick days care for physical or mental illness, injury, medical condition, professional medical diagnosis or care, …

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