Our Blog: Employee Rights

In 2024, the Illinois Legislature passed several significant employment laws, with many of them making changes to protect employees. Here’s what the changes are and what they might mean for you:

1. Illinois Personnel Record Review Act (IPRRA) Changes

• Pay Stubs: Starting January 1, 2025, employers must keep employee pay stubs for at least three years and provide them …

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On May 7, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made headlines by passing a new rule that aims to ban most non-compete agreements. This move is part of a broader effort to promote fair competition and protect workers’ rights. However, due in large part to news outlets inaccurately understanding and reporting on the rulemaking process, the initial excitement surrounding this …

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Chicago Passes COVID-19 Anti-Retaliation Ordinance

When COVID first hit, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (“FFCRA”). The FFCRA provided all kinds of protections for employees, including paid and protected leave for those diagnosed, quarantining and/or caring for someone diagnosed or quarantining for COVID. Unfortunately, the FFCRA expired in December of 2020 and Congress did not bother to …

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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 …

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After two long years of planning, advocacy, and negotiations, Chicago City Council has passed the Fair Workweek Ordinance.  The Ordinance protects employees from last minute shift changes and gives low wage earners some predictability in their schedules and, as a result, some degree of financial stability.  This is a huge win for Chicago’s employees and we are excited to see …

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An incident regarding Ivy League students behaving poorly on social media serves as a cautionary tale for employees about the limits of off duty privacy.

Last month, multiple news outlets reported that Harvard revoked the acceptances of ten incoming students after they posted offensive comments on social media.  This is a reminder that oftentimes we do not have the rights to off …

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The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals hands down a seminal ruling holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination.

I have long bemoaned the fact that federal law does not protect LGBT employees from discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act outlaws discrimination based on “sex” but courts have always interpreted that to refer …

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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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Illinois Passes Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act

As Summer nears its close, we celebrate another advancement for Illinois employees.  Notably, on August 12, 2016, Illinois passed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act.  This new law gives employment rights to nannies, housekeepers, caretakers, and other domestic workers.  This Act comes just weeks after Illinois adopted the Child Bereavement Leave Act.  Hence, our home …

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