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Employment Law

Looking for a quick end to harassment case? Never urge the complaining employee to resign

03/23/2012

Sexual harassment victims deserve to have their claims investigated, not ignored. Under no circumstances should you encourage a complaining employee to quit instead of having to endure continued harassment. That’s a sure indication to many juries that the worker was punished for reporting sexual harassment.

Don’t let disability excuse worker misconduct

03/23/2012

Disabled employees sometimes try to use their medical conditions as an excuse for poor behavior. Don’t fall for it. Disability can’t be used to avoid discipline for misconduct.

Equal pay? Not if jobs aren’t really equal

03/23/2012
The Equal Pay Act says that men and women who perform jobs requiring equal skill, effort and responsibility should be paid the same. But that doesn’t mean everyone with the same title or similar job responsibilities falls into the same pay category.

How does the state’s civil union law affect employer-provided health benefits?

03/22/2012
Q. How does the Illinois Religious Freedom Pro­­tec­­tion and Civil Union Act affect health benefits?

How does Illinois’ civil union law interact with federal discrimination laws?

03/22/2012
Q. How does the Illinois Religious Freedom Pro­tec­­tion and Civil Union Act affect an employer’s obligations under federal law?

What are the implications for employers of Illinois’ new civil union law?

03/22/2012
Q. We are aware that the Illinois Civil Union Act is in effect. Could you please tell us more about it?

After Wal-Mart, Illinois court & 7th Circuit uphold class certification

03/22/2012
Class-action litigation returned to the spotlight with last year’s Supreme Court decision in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes. In Wal-Mart v. Dukes, the Supreme Court refused to certify what would have been the largest-ever employment class action against a private employer. Now the 7th Circuit has weighed in.

EEOC targets last-chance deals that limit employee rights

03/22/2012
The EEOC has won the first round in a legal battle over whether an em­­ployer may ask workers to waive their rights to file future discrimination claims.

‘Walking the corn’ deaths lead to fines

03/22/2012
Mount Carroll-based Haasbach LLC has resolved 25 OSHA citations stemming from the deaths of two young workers at its grain bin facility.

Employee is his own lawyer? Take case seriously, anyway

03/22/2012

If one of your employees sues you and acts as his own attorney, treat the case just as seriously as you would any other lawsuit. Courts have to follow through with the legal process, including reviewing the employer’s evidence.