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In what may be the first of many to follow, Hooters restaurant chain was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit alleging WARN Act violations. The lawsuit was brought in federal court by two employees on behalf of all employees in Florida whom Hooters allegedly failed to provide with 60 days advance written notice of…
Read MoreOn April 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued interim guidance for enforcing OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements as it relates to recording cases of COVID-19. Employers are responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if the case: Is confirmed as a COVID-19 illness; Is work-related as defined by the regulations;…
Read MoreAs I write this article in the COVID-19 era with the purpose of assisting Illinois companies who use independent contractors, things are moving rapidly in terms of new federal laws, regulations and state guidelines. Changes are occurring at the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) with shocking speed! NEW REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES CHANGING ALMOST WEEKLY:…
Read MoreCOVID-19 is about the only subject being discussed at Wessels Sherman these days. Of course, there are some exceptions, but COVID-19 is the 800-pound gorilla! While most legal commentaries on COVID-19 focus on minutiae of legislation and regulations, for this commentary we are going to focus on practical information and solutions. And, we will do…
Read MoreAs COVID-19 spreads throughout America, companies are deciding whether to give pay raises to employees, especially those clearly exposed to COVID-19 risks. This is a really hot topic, so much so that we decided to spend a bit of time looking at what is happening. Most of our information is a result of internet searches…
Read MoreIllinois employers take note! The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has a new notice on its website addressing the remarkable expansion of unemployment insurance benefits under the federal stimulus package known as the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act). The IDES states that not everyone will be eligible for all the…
Read MoreWe are receiving phone calls with increasing regularity asking about a variety of issues generally described as refusals to work. Most frequently these scenarios involve talk, but sometimes outright threats to walk off the job. There are a whole host of fact patterns here which impact a legal analysis. Is there a union contract? Is…
Read MoreEarlier this afternoon, the DOL issued temporary regulations, effective immediately, implementing and interpreting the paid sick leave and emergency family leave provisions of the FFCRA. Although the rules largely mimic the information provided in the FAQs, they now have the force and effect of law. Some additional clarifications: Paid sick leave and/or EFMLA is not…
Read MoreIn this remarkable era of coronavirus legislative relief from Congress, many new laws are impacting employers. This naturally is very stressful because there is suddenly “a new normal” about so many aspects of the workplace. Employers are being asked to adapt very quickly to a virtual ocean of new legislation, and the unemployment insurance area…
Read MoreLate Friday, March 27, and again on Saturday, March 28, the Department of Labor added a number of FAQs to its March 24 guidance. Here are some of the highlights, including guidance relating to business closures and layoffs, as well as the relation between emergency public health leave and other leave under the FMLA: Paid…
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