More than 40 years ago, the Illinois Supreme Court first recognized the tort (wrongful act) of retaliatory discharge as an exception to the general rule that an “at-will” employee is terminable at any time and for any or...
Employment Law Letter
We’ve written about court decisions applying judicial doctrines under the First Amendment to bar some types of employment claims against religious entities. The Illinois Supreme Court has now weighed in. Extracurricular...
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to all Michigan and Ohio employers) affirmed summary judgment (dismissal without a trial) in favor of an employer and held claims filed under the Age...
Q Our company has offices in two different states with nonexempt employees in both locations. In our employee handbook, do we need to list the details and specify the overtime pay requirements for each state, or can we...
Q One of our nursing home employees who was exposed to a COVID-19-positive resident just returned to work from a 14-day quarantine after testing negative. Do we have to record it in the Occupational Safety and Health Act...
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more accessible to the general public, employers are faced with deciding whether to institute mandatory vaccination programs to protect employees, customers, and patients during the...
Former employees alleging age discrimination have the burden to prove the employment decision in question hinged on their age. In a recent case arising in Nebraska, the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (which has...
During the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance governing tipped employees, providing long-awaited clarification on wage and hour issues such as (1) when nontipped employees can share...
The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently issued an opinion letter declaring staffing firms may be considered a "retail or service establishment." Therefore, they pass the threshold...
When the COVID-triggered exodus away from the office began a year ago, most workers expected their work from home (WFH) arrangements to be short-lived. But the pandemic wore on, leaving many pining for the good old days...
Finding just the right person to fill a job is tricky. Sometimes, employers struggle with a dearth of suitable candidates. Other times, too many applicants make vetting overwhelming. Of course, artificial intelligence...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a final rule amending the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations covering tipped employees. Barring any changes, the rule takes effect in February 2021. Tip...
Q Our company has a paid time off (PTO) policy entitling employees to paid vacation and sick leave. When they request time off, can they choose to use unpaid leave instead if they still have a PTO balance? A In...
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) recently analyzed the proper application of the administrative exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The court’s...
Q One of our nursing home employees who was exposed to a COVID-19-positive resident just returned to work from a 14-day quarantine after testing negative. Do we have to record it in the Occupational Safety and Health Act...