Illinois lawmakers were busy in 2025, passing laws and amendments to existing laws that impact Illinois employers as of January 1, 2026.
First, Illinois amended the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”), which prohibits discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation against
Quirky Questions
Quirky Questions, published by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, addresses a range of labor and employment law topics. The blog covers issues such as arbitration provisions in employment agreements, developments in federal whistleblower programs, wage and hour law including pay frequency mandates, and the impact of federal legislation on workers. It also discusses legal challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the workplace. The content is aimed at providing insights into regulatory changes, compliance considerations, and litigation risks affecting employers and employees.
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Amendments to New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Leave Law
By Nick Pappas & Krista Bolles
Sweeping amendments to New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (“ESSTA”), N.Y. C. Admin. Code. 20-911 et seq. recently took effect on February 22, 2026. ESSTA requires employers to provide employees in New York City with paid and…
One Year In: What We Know About The EEOC’s Approach to Employer DEI Programs
Following his inauguration in January 2025, President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policies across the public and private sector. Particularly concerning for private employers who are federal contractors, Executive Order 14173, “Ending…
Ryan Gehbauer Joined Dorsey & Whitney in Dallas as Partner in Labor & Employment Group
Ryan Gehbauer joined Dorsey as a Partner in the Labor & Employment group in Dallas.
Ryan handles matters arising from all aspects of the employment relationship, including wage and hour issues, hiring disputes, background checks, and restrictive covenants.
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Washington State Prohibits Non-Competes and Many Non-Solicitation Agreements
On March 23, 2026, Washington’s Governor Bob Ferguson signed a law that eliminates non-compete agreements, severely restricts non-solicitation agreements, and imposes other requirements related to all Washington employees.
Who is covered?
This law applies to all employees in Washington, even…
Susan Lorenc Joined Dorsey & Whitney in Chicago as Partner in Labor & Employment Group
By Susan Lorenc
Susan is a strategic labor and employment advisor who helps organization make confident, well-informed decisions about their workforce. She collaborates to map out the best course of action to address clients’ needs.She partners closely with leadership and HR teams to…
Nisha Verma on DOL’s Independent Contractor Rule in HR Dive
By Nisha Verma
Dorsey Partner Nisha Verma offered perspective on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) planned recission of the previous administration’s 2024 independent contractor rule. The DOL intends to reestablish the “economic reality test” under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which evaluates independent…
Employment Claims in the UK and US, A Comparison of Two Common Law Regimes
By Matt Durham & Lisa Patmore
Dorsey Partners Matt Durham and Lisa Patmore discussed liabilities that arise from employment relationships in the U.S. and U.K. during an episode of SharkCast Litigation Risks Podcast.
In this episode, they address employment litigation and discuss how HR professionals,…
Employers Offering Voluntary Benefits Face a New Wave of ERISA Litigation
By Nick Pappas & Andrew Holly
Just about 20 years ago, Schlichter Bogard LLC, a prominent national plaintiffs’ law firm, filed a wave of putative ERISA class actions challenging how employers administered their 401(k) plans. Those cases led to two decades of litigation. Hundreds of similar…
The Importance of Adequate Procedures For Arbitration
By Nick Pappas & Olivia Roche
Employers often must consider conflicting objectives when deciding whether to include arbitration provisions in their employment agreements. On the one hand, employers may desire to arbitrate disputes with employees in a rapid, inexpensive, and confidential manner. On the other hand,…