Our Blog: Blog

The annual Open Enrollment period for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ends TODAY, January 31. This may be your last chance to protect yourself from the possibility of future discrimination by insurers based on preexisting conditions.

There is every reason to believe that the ACA will be repealed or, at a minimum, thoroughly stripped of important protections in …

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Companies cannot turn a blind eye to third-party sexual harassment.

A Chicago jury recently awarded a woman $250,000 in emotional distress damages after her employer failed to protect her from third-party sexual harassment.  In this case the third-party was a customer.

In EEOC v. Costco, the EEOC filed suit on behalf of the Plaintiff after Costco failed to take steps to protect her …

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 Cheers to More Employee Protections

Ok, we realize that not everyone gets as excited about employment law as we do.  Nevertheless, there are eight new employments laws on the books that we think you should know about and which we think warrant some celebration.

1. Common sense for sick time.  Falling under the category of employment laws that never should have had to become …

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Office holiday parties cause hangovers and headaches for companies and employees.

Every year around this time employment lawyers start feeling anxious. No, it’s not the end of the year push or the rush to hit deadlines.  It’s the dreaded office holiday parties.

Our friends on the other side of the bar who represent employers collectively shudder at the thought of …

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Illinois Employees’ Social Media Privacy Protections Expand in the New Year

Company Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media pages have become the new norm. And having employees actively participate on those employer-created pages can be a very effective marketing platform.  Active social media pages help to broadcast the employer’s brand and showcase a strong community culture to prospective clients and …

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Questions about Politics in the Workplace Raised in the Aftermath of the Election

In the wake of last week’s contentious Presidential election, political conversation has engulfed us. And the conversation is fiery.  People are sharing passionate views with each other from all sides of the electorate and in every forum where they can be heard, including raising discussions about …

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Knowing your voting rights.

Seventh Circuit Allows Employer to Terminate Employee for Failing to Make his Internal Complaint of Sexual Harassment Quickly Enough After Harassment Occurred.

Illinois Freedom to Work Act Bans Non-Competes for Low-Wage Earners

Illinois lawmakers are on a roll with expanding employee rights. On the heels of enacting several important laws for employees in the past few months, including the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act and the Child Bereavement Leave Act, our State has continued this positive trend, this time with …

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Newly Proposed Congressional Bill Targets Wage Gap

Just after returning from summer recess, Congress is off to a promising start with exciting proposed legislation for employees. On September 15, 2016, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, democratic delegate from the District of Columbia, introduced the Pay Equity for All Act of 2016 (H.R. 6030). The Bill aims to narrow the wage gap for …

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