Illinois Client Update
Legal News for Illinois Employers
September, 2019
What Illinois Employers Need To Know About Terminations! And How To Protect The Company!
Join Attorneys Richard Wessels, Nancy Joerg, Joe Laverty and Tony Caruso for our popular half day breakfast seminar ! Limited seating! Sign up right away!

In a lovely setting, learn about termination strategies and employment at will in Illinois; how to terminate employees on medical leave; how to document misconduct; and the use of settlement and release agreements to reduce risks in terminations. ALSO INCLUDES INFORMATION ON NEW ILLINIOS EMPLOYEMNT LAWS REGARDING WHAT IS ALLOWED IN SEVERANCE AND RELEASE AGREEMENTS SINCE THE LAWS WILL CHANGE, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020!  

Delicious continental breakfast! Raffle prizes! Don't miss this!!
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
8:00 a.m. to Noon
Fee: Only $100 which includes breakfast and valuable handouts.

At the beautiful and historic Dunham Woods Riding Club, Wayne, Illinois

Want more information? Contact Tammy Nelson at (630) 377-1554 or by email
Operating Engineers Local 150 Remains One of Northern Illinois Most Active Unions
By Richard H. Wessels, Esq.
NLRB statistics and filings often do not reveal the true activity level of Operating Engineers Local 150. Frequently, Local 150's strategy is more focused on picketing and boycotts, rather than traditional NLRB elections. The reality is that Operating Engineers 150 is probably the most active private sector union in Northern Illinois.
They are exceedingly well funded. They have a huge, well-paid staff, including an army of lawyers. Here is salary information from the most recent LM-2 filing with the US Department of labor:

Contact Richard in our St. Charles office at (630)377-1554 or by email
C ontact Walter in our Chicago, IL office at (312) 629-9300 or by email
Illinois Changing Employment Landscape
By Walter J. Liszka, Esq.
The Honorable J.B. Pritzker has been very busy in enacting sweeping changes to the Employment Law Landscape through the passage of various pieces of legislation in the State of Illinois. These legislative changes have modified the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Illinois Victim Economic Security and Safety Act and created the new Workplace Transparency Act, which has imposed new reporting, training and contracting requirements as well as expanding the potential legal liability of employers.
As well, Amendments to the Illinois Equal Pay Act have raised issues with regard to the hiring process and the Organ Donor and School Activity Leave has added to the Changing Landscape.

Here is a "quick summation" of the various changes:

Contact Nancy in our St. Charles, IL office at (630) 377-1554 or by email
Yes, There are Certain Categories of Workers who are Independent Contractors by Law Under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act
By Nancy E. Joerg, Esq.
Under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act (hereinafter "Act"), there are certain kinds of workers (for example, real estate appraisers, direct sellers, certain kinds of newspaper delivery people) who are exempt from employment (i.e., independent contractors) as long as the specific legal requirements are met.

If your company uses any of these types of workers, it is important to know the details of the specific exemption under the Act so that you don't unwittingly fail to meet the requirements of the exemption.
As an illustration, in Illinois, truck owner-operators are exempt from employment under Section 212.1 of the Act, but specific legal requirements must be met in order for the truck owner-operator to be exempt from employment. If all six parts of Section 212.1 are not met, then the truck owner-operator will be considered an employee and not an independent contractor under the Act.

The following is a list of some of the many industry specific and other exemptions under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act:

AJC
C ontact Tony in our St. Charles , IL office at (630) 377-1554 or by email
Get Ready! All Owners of Hotels and Casinos in Illinois Must Soon Protect Their Employees from Sexual Assault with Panic Button Safety Devices!
By Anthony J. Caruso, Jr., Esq.
Employers covered under the new law : All hotels and casinos located in Illinois, regardless of the number of employees, number of guest rooms, or size.

Employees covered under the new law : Any employee (full or part-time, as well as employees of subcontractors) assigned to work in a guest room, rest room, or casino floor.
Employers must do the following :
  1. Equip employees with a portable emergency contact device or panic button that can be used to summon help if an employee reasonably believes there is an ongoing crime, sexual harassment or assault, or other emergency.
  2. Develop and adhere to a written anti-sexual harassment policy.

The anti-sexual harassment policy must contain the following:

For only $75 a month you will have unlimited access to Wessels Sherman attorneys who can answer these and other employment law questions. Call for a "free trial" of a month or more!

Employment Law Questions?

Sign up for Wessels Sherman's Very Popular Telephone Program
 
We can help you solve these workplace issues and many more:

  • Employee coming in late?
  • ACA/ADA/FMLA questions?
  • Can I deduct the cost for a uniform from employee pay?
  • What new employee paperwork do I need?
  • Accident at work?
  • Do all these new laws apply to my company?
  • Can I fire an employee and not be sued?
  • Does our privacy policy cover internet use?
  • Can my employees Tweet that?
  • Employees sharing confidential information? 
Employee Handbooks for Illinois Employers. What Policies to Include (and Why)!
When: Thursday, November 7, 2019, 2-3pm

Presented by Attorneys Nancy Joerg & Tony Caruso

Have you ever wondered if your employee handbook is really up to date and complete ? Are you in the process of re-writing your handbook and you're not sure what you should, or should not, include? Join us to learn the true purpose of a handbook; Illinois specific language to use ; what policies to leave out; how to treat employee benefits; and what handbooks should say about performance reviews and salary.

Want more information? Contact Tammy Nelson at (630) 377-1554 or by email
Wessels Sherman has well-staffed offices with experienced attorneys to assist with our readers' legal needs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa too. Businesses with operations/matters in these states are encouraged to call any of our attorneys for assistance. Additionally, Wessels Sherman attorneys regularly work with other lawyers as a highly cost-effective and trusted co-counsel and local counsel. Referrals are always appreciated and respected.  
Editor-in-Chief: Nancy E. Joerg, Esq.
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