The state of Illinois has recently passed a new employment law, known as the Illinois All Workers Act, which provides greater protections for workers across the state. The purpose of the law is to address the growing need for fair
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The Illinois Paid Leave for Workers Act Allows Employees Leave For Any Reason They Choose
By Ethan White
Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed the Paid Leave for Workers Act, which takes effect on January 1, 2024. The Act requires employers to provide eligible employees with paid sick leave and is designed to promote a healthier and more productive…
Amendments to the Illinois’ One Day Rest in Seven Act Provide Further Employee Protections
By Ethan White
The Illinois One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA), which requires employers to provide employees with at least one day of rest per week, has recently been amended. The amendments to the law, which went into effect in 2023, provide…
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Title VII Prevents Sexual Orientation Discrimination
By Ethan White
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court made clear, in a 6-3 ruling, that federal law, through Title VII, protects workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Court held that “Title VII makes it ‘unlawful…
Retaliation for Supporting Another’s Claim of Discrimination is Illegal
By Ethan White
Unlawful workplace retaliation can take many forms, and an employee may even have a claim for activity outside of work. For example, as explained by the EEOC in his June 2019 press release, an employer can be liable where…
Illinois Law Now Requires Employers to Reimburse Employee Expenses
By Ethan White
The Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (the “IWPCA”) has long provided protections for employees to ensure their employers timely pay them all the compensation they are owed, including, in some cases, personal liability for the person making the decision…
Avoiding the Pitfalls of “Near” Whistleblowers
By Ethan White
Over the years, I’ve dealt with a number of what I would call “near” whistleblowers. I say “near” because, while the potential client may have attempted to expose wrongdoing, they failed to do it in a way to bring them…
Illinois Now Required Paid Nursing Breaks For At Least One Year
By Ethan White
Illinois has previously provided protections for pregnant women in the workplace. For example, the Illinois Human Rights Act has expressly recognized pregnancy as a protected personal characteristic. But now, with the passage of an amendment to the Illinois Nursing Mothers…
Senate Bill 20 will bring major changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act
By Ethan White
Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms and, in Illinois, a large number of personal characteristics are protected and legally actionable under the Illinois Human Rights Act (the “Act”). For example, if your employer has discriminated against you on…