Protecting Employers Since 1985

NLRB Joint-Employer Standard-2023 Final Rule

By Joseph H. Laverty / December 5, 2023

On October 27, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board, (NLRB), published a final rule addressing the standard for determining joint-employer status. The final rule establishes that, under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), two or more entities may be considered joint employers of a group of employees if each entity has an employment relationship with…

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The Benefits Of Conducting A Self-Audit On Your Company

By Joseph H. Laverty / September 16, 2023

Employment law issues run the complete range from discrimination and harassment to unsafe conditions – but one thing remains the same: If you as the employer are violating a law you could be opening your company and yourself to liability. Below are common employment laws to conduct an audit on. Common Employment Law Issues Common…

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AI in the Human Resources Arena

By Joseph H. Laverty / August 26, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming human resources departments. While the benefits of AI include increased efficiency and cost benefits, the dangers are bias and discrimination. As a result, regulators are rapidly enacting laws to govern the use of AI in employment decisions, presenting a challenge for employers to keep up with legislation and remain compliant.…

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News from the Iowa Legislature

By Joseph H. Laverty / July 6, 2023

New Iowa child labor laws A new law has just taken effect in Iowa relating to child labor laws. The new law allows kids ages 14 and 15 to be able to work until 11:00 PM during the summer. That’s two hours longer than previously allowed. They’ll be able to work until 9:00 PM during…

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D.O.L. Wage And Hour Division Publishes Enforcement Bulletin On Pump Act Protections For Nursing Mothers

By Joseph H. Laverty / May 27, 2023

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor just published a bulletin to provide its field staff with detailed guidance for enforcing amendments to the FLSA via the PUMP Act that was signed into law on December 29, 2022.  This law requires that employers provide nursing employees with reasonable break time and…

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Illinois Recreational Cannabis Law Is Raising Many Questions for Employers

By Joseph H. Laverty / November 18, 2019

Over the last month, nearly half the calls I receive are about Illinois’s new recreational cannabis law which takes effect on January 1, 2020. Employers have many questions about the new law. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions that I have received. QUESTION No. 1: When does the new law go into…

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What Happens if a Current or Former Employee Files a Charge of Discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)?

By Joseph H. Laverty / June 24, 2019

The first thing to check is: Was the Charge of Discrimination filed “timely”? A Charge of Discrimination must be filed within 300 days after the alleged discriminatory actions, or one year for a fair housing case. Employers accused of discrimination are required to preserve any records pertinent to the Charge. Additionally, employers are prohibited from…

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Key Changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act (Which Will Affect Employers)!

By Joseph H. Laverty / April 15, 2019

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (“IDHR”) is the agency that administers the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”), the state law that outlaws discrimination, harassment and retaliation by most employers in Illinois. The IDHR’s federal counterpart is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), which administers the federal laws preventing the same type of violations. In…

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With Justice Brett Kavanaugh Appointed To The United States Supreme Court, The Court Is Likely To Issue Pro-Employer Decisions In The Years To Come.

By Joseph H. Laverty / October 24, 2018

No matter what your political view is regarding Justice Kavanaugh’s lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, employers can expect Justice Kavanaugh to be a strict constructionist of the many labor and employment statutes that employers must abide by. Prior to being appointed to the high court, Justice Kavanaugh was appointed to the U.S. Court…

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New Illinois Expense Reimbursement Law

By Joseph H. Laverty / October 15, 2018

Placing new legal burdens on employers in Illinois, on August 26, 2018, Governor Rauner signed into law an amendment to the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA), requiring employers to reimburse their employees for all expenses within the scope of “necessary expenditures incurred by the employee within the employee’s scope of employment and directly…

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