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Articles by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law

Compared to other states, Illinois makes it easier for employers to get sued. Aggressive attorneys don’t stop with federal laws like FMLA, ADA and FLSA: they use state and local living-wage statutes, rural codes, plus discrimination and other laws to sue employers for sky’s-the-limit damages. This Illinois-specific newsletter arrives monthly to help sue-proof every aspect of HR. Written in plain English, it’s your insurance policy for staying in step with current interpretations of state and local laws – and staying out of court. Learn more about HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law and the free report you’ll get when you subscribe...

The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law

Heard sexual harassment complaint is coming? Immediately launch your investigation

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 24, 2012 11:00am

in Discrimination and Harassment, HR Management, Human Resources

When HR receives a complaint about sexual or some other form of harassment, immediately put your investigation machinery in motion. Start gathering information before you even meet with the complaining employee. That way, you can’t be accused of ignoring the problem …

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Got a hugger on your hands? He spells trouble

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 23, 2012 2:00pm

in Discrimination and Harassment, Human Resources

Having a good sexual harassment policy in place doesn’t mean much if your supervisors ignore it. Take, for example, someone who is what we might call “touchy feely.”

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Shut down demeaning name-calling ASAP–or else prepare to pay for your ‘tolerance’

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 23, 2012 1:00pm

in Discrimination and Harassment, Human Resources

If you need an incentive to stop name-calling in the workplace, consider this: The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a jury award of $70,000 for a supervisor’s repeated and demeaning use of the word “bitch” when speaking to a subordinate.

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Was that sex bias–or clumsy geek-speak?

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 23, 2012 10:00am

in Discrimination and Harassment, Human Resources

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has apparently concluded that some professionals are less articulate than others and deserve a pass when they make sexist comments.

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Illinois ‘Facebook Law’ bans seeking employee passwords

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 22, 2012 4:00pm

in Employment Law, HR Management, Human Resources

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation barring employers from requesting job applicants’ or employees’ social media passwords. Dubbed the “Face­­­book Law,” the new law is intended to protect employees’ private communications from the prying eyes of prospective or current bosses.

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Suspect leave abuse? Consider surveillance to catch those trying to game FMLA system

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 22, 2012 2:00pm

in FMLA Guidelines, Human Resources

Absenteeism is a big problem for many employers. If you suspect that some employees are taking advantage of your leave programs, you can and should come up with a plan to catch them, as one employer recently did.

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Racist talk toward others can add up to hostile environment

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 22, 2012 12:00pm

in Discrimination and Harassment, Human Resources

Don’t allow racist talk. Even if not di­rected at an employee, it can have a profound effect on her.

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Northbrook union trustees to fix bad loans worth $1.7 million

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 21, 2012 10:00am

in Employment Law, Human Resources

Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Em­­ployee Ben­­­efits Security Administration (EBSA), trustees for the United Em­­ployee Benefit Fund in North­­brook have agreed to correct $1.7 million in improper loans made from the union retirement fund.

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Employee files FMLA suit? Be sure to check calendar

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 19, 2012 1:00pm

in FMLA Guidelines, Human Resources

Employees have no more than three years following an alleged FMLA violation to file an FMLA-interference lawsuit. And that’s only if the employer’s violation was “willful.” In most cases, they have just two years to get that lawsuit going.

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OSHA won’t let Illinois whistle-blowers be railroaded

by The HR Specialist: Illinois Employment Law on October 18, 2012 12:00pm

in Employment Law, Human Resources

Three whistle-blowers will collect more than $650,000 after two different railroads fired them following workplace accidents. OSHA concluded the three men were wrongfully accused of safety violations to divert blame for workplace hazards.

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