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On August 13, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law major amendments to the Illinois Freedom to Work Act which will become effective January 1, 2022. What is covered: Employment agreements with non-compete and non-solicitation covenants signed after January 1, 2022. New Salary Requirements: Prohibits non-competes with employees earning less than $75,000 per year. Prohibits…
Read MoreThe newly appointed General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, of the National Labor Relations Board has just given the business community a road map of her pro-union agenda. Ms. Abruzzo comes to the key General Counsel position after serving as an attorney for the Communication Workers of America. On August 12, 2021, Ms. Abruzzo issued a memorandum…
Read MoreIllinois employers must carefully review their sick leave policies to ensure compliance under both state and federal laws.
Read MoreWhen firing an employee and the firing is for misconduct, it is extremely important to think through how you are going to prove the employee’s misconduct. Strategic planning prior to firing the employee is crucial. If you think through these issues thoroughly, your batting average at winning IDES misconduct Hearings will go up dramatically.
Read MoreOn March 23, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act (P.A. 101-656) with regard to criminal conviction records of applicants and employees in the state of Illinois. The amendments took effect immediately, so Illinois employers must become well informed about the new restrictions on the ability of an…
Read MoreThere is no legal requirement that an Illinois employer must have an Employee Handbook. However, most Illinois employers do have an Employee Handbook because 1) it is a convenient way to distribute the employer’s policies to its employees and 2) there are certain legal protections that having an Employee Handbook brings to an employer. In…
Read MoreAs the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) issued in March 2021, the following guidance for employers. Mandatory Vaccination Programs Wages: If an employer requires employees to get vaccinated, the time the employee spends obtaining the vaccine is likely compensable even if it is non-working time. Paid Leave: Time…
Read MoreOne of the most frequent questions that Illinois companies have asked me over the years is, “Why me?” They want to know why the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has selected their company to be audited. IDES auditors have a legitimate and important function: to make sure that Illinois employers are paying their fair…
Read MoreHot off the presses! The NLRB just released the news that Peter Sung Ohr has been appointed General Counsel to replace Peter Robb. It’s clear that the Biden administration’s strategy is to deny the pro-business forces at the NLRB the opportunity to make continued changes during the last ten months of Peter Robb’s term. Peter…
Read MoreThe new Biden administration signaled an aggressive approach to changes at the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” and/or “Board”). On his first day in office, President Joe Biden made good on a threat to fire National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Peter Robb, who had rebuffed an earlier request to resign. Robb’s firing ends a…
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