By: Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds On July 19, 2014, Governor Quinn signed the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act into law. See, P.A. 098-0774, available at http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?name=098-0774&GA=98&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=5701&GAID=11&Session. The new law has been referred to as “Ban the Box” legislation because it prohibits the use of criminal conviction inquiries on employment applications. The new law also […]
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds October 6th, 2014
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds Employer-sponsored events, including but not limited to holiday parties, generate liability risks for employers. Often alcohol is served at such events and employers will likely be exposed to liability for the actions of employees during or after such events. In general, under the Illinois Dramshop Act, employers are classified as social hosts […]
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as “Obamacare”, added a section to the Fair Labor Standards Act that, beginning October 1, 2013, will require employers to provide employees with special notice of health insurance coverage options. What does this mean for employers? It means employers need […]
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Alexander J. Mezny Illinois recently amended the Employee Classification Act. The Act is designed to discourage employers from classifying individuals as independent contractors to avoid certain employer-related responsibilities, such as employment taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and overtime pay. Under the amendments, agents or officers of a corporation who knowingly permit such violations may […]
Alexander Mezny November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds Illinois recently passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. The Act contains several employment provisions, which should trump the Illinois Right to Privacy Act’s more general prohibition of discrimination on the basis of an employee’s off duty use of lawful products. Under current federal law, employers are not […]
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Roberta L. Holzwarth Reassignment by an employer has long been recognized as a reasonable accommodation for a disabled employee as long as the employee is qualified for the position, the position is vacant, and the reassignment does not place an undue burden on the employer. Prior to September 2012, the Seventh Circuit, which has jurisdiction […]
Roberta Holzwarth November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds Last month the Illinois legislature passed the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, P.A. 098-0063. Under the new law, individuals who have a valid FOID card, satisfy various background requirements, and complete training may be licensed to carry concealed firearms in areas other than “prohibited locations”. Prohibited locations include schools, government buildings, hospitals, […]
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Roberta L. Holzwarth Recently the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service decided that they will determine the marital status of same-sex couples using what is known as the “state of celebration” rule. Under this rule, if a couple is legally married in a state that recognizes the marriage, the couple will be […]
Roberta Holzwarth November 26th, 2013
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Alexander J. Mezny Leave laws have proliferated in the wake of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Below is a summary of some of the miscellaneous leave laws in Illinois: Leave for Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence. The Illinois Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) requires employers of 15 or more employees […]
Alexander Mezny January 18th, 2012
Posted In: Employment & Labor
By: Alexander J. Mezny The National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) recent complaint against a Connecticut ambulance company for allegedly firing an employee due to negative posts on Facebook has been all over the news. What does it mean for you? The NLRB felt the posts qualified as “protected concerted activity” – the right of employees to […]
Alexander Mezny July 21st, 2011
Posted In: Employment & Labor