Protecting Employers Since 1985

Bye-Bye Franchisee

By Walter J. Liszka / August 25, 2014

The first “nail in the coffin” in doing away with the franchiser/franchisee relationship and jeopardizing a vast number of small business operators in this country (estimated at a little over 85% in the restaurant industry), has been “nailed” by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel. Robert F. Griffin, Jr., who was sworn in…

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Here Comes the EEOC!

By Walter J. Liszka / August 17, 2014

As most private employers are well aware, numerous federal and state government agencies conduct on-site investigations and have been doing so for a long period of time [for example, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA inspectors) and United States Department of Labor (USDOL inspectors)]. Soon to be joining this array of “government visitors” is the…

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Child Support Payments – A Potentially Bedeviling Problem for Illinois Employers

By Walter J. Liszka / July 31, 2014

Employers in the State of Illinois must become more aware of their obligations arising under the Income Withholding for Support Act (750 ILCS 28/1 et seq.). This Act provides the authority for a court of law to designate that periodic payments of funds for the support of a child or a maintenance of the spouse…

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Avoid Paying Excessive Plaintiff Legal Fees

By Walter J. Liszka / July 20, 2014

Over the last five (5) years, there has been a drastic increase in the number of lawsuits filed alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in an attempt to procure back wages and liquidated damages for affected employees. A vast number of these lawsuits have turned into large class action litigations. Any employer…

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Payment Cards as Wage Payment (?)

By Walter J. Liszka / June 26, 2014

The brilliant Illinois legislature has recently recognized payroll cards as an approved method of wage payment in the State of Illinois. This measure has passed the House (House Bill 5622) after receiving prior approval from the Senate and now awaits Governor Pat Quinn’s signature. The author believes that this group is the reincarnation of Nero…

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Courts Bend the “Golden Rule”

By Walter J. Liszka / June 5, 2014

Since I was a child back in the early 1950s, I was taught many things by my parents, including “treat others as you want to be treated” and “do not steal or take other people’s property.” Obviously, the Federal Court System and, specifically, U.S. District Court Judge William H. Orrick, have either never been taught…

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Best Candidate for the Job

By Walter J. Liszka / May 27, 2014

House Bill 5701, known as the “Best Candidate for the Job Act,” has passed the Illinois House and is expected to win overwhelming approval in the Illinois Senate.This Bill would bar businesses with 15 or more employees from inquiring about or requiring applicants to disclose their criminal records (i.e., criminal convictions) before offering the individual…

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Employer Lessons from Donald Sterling

By Walter J. Liszka / May 22, 2014

There are very few, if any, individuals who are unaware of the well-publicized recent scandal involving Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling. Certainly, Mr. Sterling’s unfortunate comments have resulted in unprecedented penalties from the NBA and, in all probability, are the result of the very enflamed situation that grew from a bonfire to a forest…

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Obama is Labor’s Winning Hand

By Walter J. Liszka / April 22, 2014

Since the election of Barack Obama, employers who have maintained a union-free environment have had to deal with a number of bizarre new decisions and rules by agencies in the Obama administration that have been attempting to make union organizing easier for employees and much more difficult for employers to resist. All of us remember…

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Your Government at Work

By Walter J. Liszka / March 5, 2014

With the fiscal year of the United States Government ending as of September 30, 2013, various government agencies have issued their “Fiscal Year Reports” with regard to what they have been able to accomplish during Fiscal 2013. Two of the most important agencies as far as their effect on business entities are the Equal Employment…

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