Non-compete agreements are used by businesses in order to retain talent, as well as protect their intellectual property, however, many employees are finding themselves feeling trapped and unable to leave their company for other, potentially more beneficial and profitable opportunities. Should I sign a non-compete agreement? If your potential employer is asking you to do […]
How To Handle At-Will Employment
Throughout the United States of America, most jobs in nearly all states are considered at-will employment, you may be wondering what at-will employment truly means and if it has a huge effect on your occupation. What does At-Will Employment mean? At-will employment is where your job is at risk all the time and your job […]
Understanding Your Employment Contract
Non-Compete Agreements and their Implications A few generations ago it was common for a person to remain at their first job for a lifetime. If not that long, it was still common to stay at the same job for many years. But today people typically change jobs several times in their career. Sometimes there is […]
What Is The Fair Labor Standards Act?
In order to establish a national minimum wage as well as other labor laws, The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938. This act not only guaranteed things like overtime to qualified employees and the 40-hour workweek, but also prevent the employment of minors in “oppressive child labor”. Minimum Wage & Overtime The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that […]
When Does my Employer Have to Pay me and What do I do if They are not Doing it on Time?
Many employment laws and regulations are designed to ensure employers don’t take advantage of their employees. Some of those laws include when and how your employer should pay its employees. In Illinois, an employer must pay an employee by check or in the discretion of the employee by direct deposit or a debit card (subject to very strict guidelines). […]
Starting July 2017 – Most Chicago Workers Will be Entitled to 5 Paid Sick Days
Yesterday, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide employees (within the City of Chicago) one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours of work. The accrual is capped at five sick days in a 12-month period. The ordinance is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2017 and will affect virtually […]
Have You Been the Victim of Abusive Non-Compete Agreements By Your Employer And/Or Others to Hold Your Wages Down?
The non-compete lawyers at Maduff & Maduff have spent years battling these abusive practices on behalf of clients using existing law. Now the administration has taken on these abuses with the issuance of a detailed study on the problem as a first step in strengthening worker protections. Furthermore, Vice President Joe Biden has taken a […]
New Non-Compete Cases Are Divided on Whether Continued Employment is Adequate Consideration to Support a Restrictive Covenant
Since a decision by an Illinois Appellate court in 2013 (which the Illinois Supreme Court declined to review) held that to support a non-compete agreement the employee must work for at least two years it has been a hotly debated issue. We discussed Fifield and a related case last January. Two recent non-compete decisions highlight the growing divide on this issue. […]
Employment Contracts: Should You Sign?
You got the job! Now, here comes the hard part…reading and understanding your employment contract. While you may be thrilled to start your new job, however, it is critical for a you to know what you may be accepting by signing their employment contract. And little do people know, by reviewing and understanding your employment contract before […]
When Can Employees Sue an Employer to Rule a Non-Compete Unforceable
A recent decision by the Federal Court in Chicago suggests that a former employee cannot sue his former employer to challenge the validity of a non-compete agreement if there is no threat that the former employer will seek to enforce it. But as discussed herein, there may be other ways to challenge it. First some […]