Despite recent amendments that expand the list of misconduct that will disqualify Illinois unemployment insurance claims, a recent Illinois Supreme Court case requires communication of a specific rule or policy if an employer needs to prohibit misconduct not listed in the amended statute. Read the full article.…

Recent independent-contractor misclassification guidelines, and proposed changes to the overtime rules by the U.S. Department of Labor, underscore that employers should be reviewing their independent-contractor classifications and wage and hour exempt-employee classifications. But even if an employer has correctly classified its own workforce, it still may be held responsible for a variety of employment liabilities if it is found to be a ‘joint employer’ with another company which has misclassified its workers. This On the…

All individuals involved in a proposed sale transaction have a personal stake in full federal, state and local legal compliance because of expanding doctrines of personal liability and successorship liability, notwithstanding transaction documents that purport to disclaim assumption of seller’s liabilities. Read the full article.…

More than a decade ago, “dual use” devices (i.e., one device used for both work and personal reasons) began creeping into workplaces around the globe.  Some employees insisted on bringing fancy new smart phones from home to replace the company-issued clunker and, while many employers resisted at first, dual use devices quickly became so popular that allowing them became inevitable or necessary for employee recruitment and retention, not to mention the cost savings that could…

Private equity firms risk potential liability for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act violations. Case examples demonstrate the need for proactive activity management, including observing corporate formalities, establishing and filling the director and officer positions of all entities, permitting the operating company management to make the decisions regarding employment terminations and plant closings, and clearly communicating and documenting these activities, to help avoid or quickly exit litigation. Click here to read the full article.…