Protecting Employers Since 1985

US Department of Labor’s Final Rule on Independent Contractor vs Employee is Ready to Set New Standards

By Anthony J. Caruso Jr. / February 1, 2024

On January 10, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) published the Final Rule (standards) for assessing whether a worker is an independent contract or employee in the Federal Register. The Final Rule is scheduled to take effect on March 11, 2024 The Final Rule is a six factor Economic Reality Test: The above factors…

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DEI DONE RIGHT – EASIER SAID THAN DONE

By James B. Sherman / January 30, 2024

Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI in the workplace seems a worthy goal for any employer. After all it is the ethical thing to do, right? And if DEI is ethical, you might think it would be simple enough for any ethical business to implement. Just do the right thing by people, right?  But…

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Mistake Prone IRS Employee Failed To Pursuade Appellate Court Her Discharge Reflected Unlawful “Cultural Bias”  

By James B. Sherman / May 20, 2023

An IRS employee brought a national origin discrimination lawsuit after being fired for poor performance. The employee’s discharge was preceded by a disciplinary notice that documented over 100 mistakes she had made on the job.  Undaunted by the overwhelming documented evidence of her failed performance, the plaintiff blamed management for its “cultural bias” against her…

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Twitter Faces Class Action Lawsuit By Laid Off Contract Workers Alleging WARN Violations

By James B. Sherman / May 13, 2023

Not long after Elon Musk paid billions to acquire a majority interest in Twitter, the company laid off over half its workforce. Many of those laid off were contract workers supplied by TEKsystems Inc., a staffing firm. In the aftermath Twitter is facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging it failed to provide these workers…

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Court Of Appeals To Determine Whether To Enforce The NLRB’s Controversial Mclaren Macomb Decision That NDAs And Non-Disparagement Agreements Violate Federal Labor Law

By James B. Sherman / April 22, 2023

As predicted, the National Labor Relations Board’s recent decision in McLaren Macomb has quickly advanced to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. In February the NLRB declared that employers violate federal labor law if they include nondisclosure (NDAs) or non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements for non-managerial employees. The appellate court will decide…

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NLRB ISSUES SWEEPING DECISION DECLARING CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISPARAGEMENT CLAUSES IN SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS UNLAWFUL

By James B. Sherman / February 22, 2023

Yesterday, the National Labor Relations Board reversed Trump-era Board precedent, and arguably expanded its precedent from the Obama administration, to declare unlawful two clauses commonly used by employers when offering severance packages. The decision in McLaren Macomb, Case No. 07-CA-263041 (2/21/2023) held that the employer, a Michigan hospital, violated the National Labor Relations Act by…

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Employers Beware: Illinois Law Amended to Protect Applicants and Employees with Criminal Conviction Record

By Anthony J. Caruso Jr. / June 1, 2021

On 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…

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The Ten Most Common Questions Illinois Employers Ask About the Use of Severance and Release Agreements for Terminations

By Nancy E. Joerg / January 26, 2021

Employers often like to use Severance and Release Agreements when terminating employees because this process brings closure to what could be a potentially litigious situation. A Severance and Release Agreement is a contractual exchange between the two parties: the employer and the employee who is being let go. The employer gives the employee severance (money…

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Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act – What This Means For You

By Walter J. Liszka / January 25, 2020

The State of Illinois recently enacted legislation entitled the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act which took effect on January 1, 2020. Employers who use Artificial Intelligence to analyze videos of job applicants are subject to the requirements of this law. Artificial Intelligence interviewing is growing substantially in the Private Sector. A survey last year of…

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Illinois Employers Have New Restrictions on the Use of Arrest Records in Employment Decisions

By Anthony J. Caruso Jr. / January 24, 2020

Effective January 1, 2020, the Illinois Human Rights Act has been amended regarding the use of arrest records by employers. Unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil rights violation under the Illinois Human Rights Act to use arrest records in employment decisions. Covered entities: Any employer, employment agency or labor organization as defined…

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