Most employees working in the service industry will earn more money in the tips they receive, than they will receive in actual wages. It is important, however, that the people who are employed in the service industry understand how tipping works and what the tipping laws are in their particular state are, especially when it comes to ensuring […]
Employment Laws That Protect You From Discrimination
There are several federal laws in place that were created to protect employees from various types of discrimination and wrongful termination in the workplace, including the following: Color Race National Origin Religious Beliefs Gender Age (only for employees 40 and older) Disability Due to pregnancy, child birth, or other medical related issues Citizenship Genetics In the […]
Understanding The Basics Of FMLA and Intermittent Leave
Everyone knows that work is a huge part of our lives, but sometimes there is an event in our personal lives that overshadows all aspects of our professional lives. Usually you need time off to deal with a medical condition, your own or that of or a family member. Sometimes it can be a non-medical […]
Adverse Actions And Retaliation In The Workplace
From wrongful termination, to discrimination, employees have the potential to become a victim of adverse actions and retaliation in the workplace. Luckily, however, there are many state and federal laws that protect employees from employer retaliation. What Is Retaliation? Retaliation is when an employer takes an adverse action against an employee that negatively affects their employment, but only when […]
Are you Entitled to Overtime Pay?
Many people confuse or do not fully understand how overtime pay works, often making who is and who is not eligible to receive overtime pay the biggest confusion of them all. And, since overtime laws are set by the U.S. Department of Labor, requiring that employees meet a certain set of requirements to qualify, it is critical that employees understand where […]
Handling Discrimination and Harassment Claims
When running a successful business, one of the most important practices and policies to have in place is an effective, efficient and proactive complaint procedure. Be Respectful: When a complaint is brought to your attention, it is important to ensure that they are treated with both respect and consideration. You must take every claim seriously. […]
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). […]
What Trump’s Termination of James Comey Teaches Employers on What Not to Do
Donald Trump fired James Comey, Jr. as the FBI Director with a letter and memorandum of the rational for the termination (if you haven’t seen them you can take a peek here.) While this act is taken at the highest levels of government related issues of enormous public interest, it is substantively little different than decisions […]
Employee/Employer: When Hiring An Employment Attorney Can Be A Good Idea
Lawsuits are becoming more and more common in today’s workplace. Whether you are an employee, or an employer, it is important to know whom you can trust in the event you need to file or defend a lawsuit. Employee Issues Failure to pay proper wages or overtime (“Wage Theft”) as well as deprivation of rights like Family Medical […]
Seventh Circuit: Title VII Protects Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Workplace
In an en banc opinion which the dissent calls “momentous”, on April 4, 2017, the Seventh Circuit held “that a person who alleges discrimination on the basis of her sexual orientation has put forth a case of sex discrimination for Title VII purposes.” With this opinion, the 7th Circuit becomes the first in the nation to explicitly recognize sexual orientation […]