Protecting Employers Since 1985

Legislative Update: Some Non-Compete Agreements Unenforceable Under New Illinois Law

By Anthony J. Caruso Jr. / November 14, 2016

New Law Affects Non-Compete Agreements for Employees earning less than $13 per hour Today, many employers use non-compete agreements to protect their company’s business. As such, the issue is always whether or not a non-compete agreement is enforceable for the Company. Now, in Illinois, there is a clear directive as to certain employees that the…

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Dealing with Post-Election Conflict in the Workplace

By Alan E. Seneczko / November 11, 2016

As we all know, events occurring outside the workplace usually find their way into the workplace – but generally with little disruption or impact. It is therefore not surprising that the results of the recent election and the divisiveness that it has produced have spilled into the workplace – only this time with disruptive and…

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Government Business Costs

By Walter J. Liszka / November 11, 2016

Over the last number of years, businesses have been hammered by various Government entities (Local, County, State, and Federal) with regard to establishing new policies or procedures that increase the cost of business operation. There is no doubt that the implementation of Obamacare, Tax Increases, increased Medicare/Medicaid contributions, and Executive Orders over the past four…

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The Holidays Are Upon Us

By Walter J. Liszka / October 31, 2016

It is never too early to begin planning for the Holiday Season of Calendar 2016 and the inevitable business Holiday Party. There is no doubt whatsoever that the festive season of November and December calls out every year for a business celebration and it is incumbent upon all Employers to be well prepared both for…

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State of Labor Unions in America

By Wessels Sherman / October 31, 2016

ARE UNIONS DEAD? In the private sector, if they are not dead, they are in a near death condition. Latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that private sector unions now represent LESS THAN 8% of workers. A number of profound changes have occurred that have contributed to the death spiral for private…

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Why It Is So Important To Train All Managers And Supervisors To Identify Harassment

By Nancy E. Joerg / October 27, 2016

To protect the Company from becoming a defendant in a devastating lawsuit, all managers and supervisors must be carefully and periodically trained to recognize workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. COURTS LOOK TO SEE WHAT EMPLOYER DID TO HANDLE ALLEGED HARASSMENT: Without the proper and extensive training of managers and supervisors, an employee’s harassment complaint may…

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Best Practices Employers Can Use in Advance of Election Day, to Satisfy Minnesota’s Time Off Work to Vote Statute While Also Minimizing Disruptions to Their Operations

By James B. Sherman / October 26, 2016

Election Day is fast approaching – Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Like most states, Minnesota has a law that protects employees’ rights to be absent from work for a sufficient amount of time to be able to vote. Under the Minnesota law, employees have the right to “be absent from work for the time necessary to…

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FLSA White-Collar Exemption Rule – Effective December 1, 2016

By Walter J. Liszka / October 26, 2016

As every Employer is aware, there has been a flurry of activity to forestall the implementation of the United States Department of Labor’s new Fair Labor Standards Act White-Collar Exemption Regulations that were scheduled to take effect on Thursday, December 1, 2016. There have been two (2) separate Lawsuits filed in the Texas Federal Courts…

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Two More Bad Decisions from the National Labor Relations Board Suggest That Double Standards Are Used When It Comes to Employers and Unions

By James B. Sherman / October 26, 2016

1. Employer Contesting Recently Fired, Gun-Toting Former Employee’s Presence at Union Election Site, Must Prove it Actually Affected Outcome of Election. Those who are unfamiliar with how the NLRB conducts union elections, might be surprised to learn just how particular are its procedures. Employee notices of election information – date/time/location – must be posted in…

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Legislative Update: Illinois Adopts Employee Sick Leave Act

By Anthony J. Caruso Jr. / October 17, 2016

Today, many employees face the dilemma of how to take time off from work to care for an ill family member and still be paid. Before this law, employees had to say they were sick (when they were not) in order to be off work to care for their family and still be paid. Or,…

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