Once a job offer has been extended, many applicants are so excited for the opportunity that they don’t understand what exactly they are signing away when signing the employment contract. However, it is always critical for any potential employee to review, understand, and even negotiate employment contracts before making the decision to sign. Here are […]
Understanding The FLSA
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed in 1938 in order to establish a national minimum wage, guaranteed overtime to qualified employees, the 40-hour workweek, as well as prevent the employment of minors in “oppressive child labor”. Not only does the FLSA require that an employer pay their employees minimum wage, but they must also pay […]
Illinois Appellate Decision May Require Employers to Retain Attorneys for Unemployment Hearings
Although employment lawyers handle unemployment hearings as a matter of course, it has been a common practice for larger companies to have non-attorneys representing them in administrative hearings, including at the Illinois Department of Employment Security (unemployment hearings.) An opinion from the Illinois Appellate Court in Chicago may change that. While individuals are permitted to […]
Excessive Non-Competes: The Jimmy Johns Problem
While non-compete agreements do have their purpose, they are over used and abused by employers. As a general proposition, they are disfavored in most states as a restraint upon trade. Most recently, a non-compete agreement that Jimmy Johns’ Sandwich shop has used with even its low wage workers has caused a stir in the employment […]
Understanding Your Rights As An Employee
The federal government has established several laws in order to protect an employee and their rights. Even though not all businesses qualify for each law, there are basic rights in all workplaces. These basic employee rights include: The right to privacy The right to fair compensation The right to be free from age, race, gender, religion, or national […]