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Employment Law

Tampa investigation leads to multistate overtime settlement

02/14/2011
When U.S. Department of Labor investigators first looked into ready-mix cement truck drivers’ complaints in Tampa, they didn’t know the investigation would lead to a $1.5 million recovery for CEMEX employees in eight states.

Develop, implement and publicize policies that encourage employees to report harassment

02/14/2011

Here’s a big benefit to having a strong anti-harassment policy: The policy’s very existence helps protect employers against false claims. That’s because employees won’t be able to say they endured years of harassment and didn’t know how or to whom to report it. The key is making sure employees know about your policy.

Florida government agencies, contractors must use E-Verify

02/14/2011
One of Gov. Rick Scott’s first moves after taking office in January was to require all state agencies and contractors to use the federal government’s E-Verify online employment eligibility verification system for all its new hires. Scott’s move makes Florida the 14th state to adopt E-Verify for public employees, contractors or both.

Post all job openings to head off bias suits

02/14/2011

Save yourself lots of trouble by posting all open positions and telling employees exactly how to apply. When jobs aren’t posted and a member of a protected class misses out on a job opportunity, he or she can argue that the employer purposely hid the opening in order to exclude some individuals.

What’s this I hear about a partnership between the government and the ABA to help employees sue?

02/11/2011
Q. I’ve heard that employees may soon be getting free legal services to sue employers. Is this true?

How much time off must we grant for school activities?

02/11/2011
Q. We are short-staffed due to layoffs. One of our employees wants to take more time off to attend school activities, even though we have already allowed her to attend parent-teacher conferences and a talent show. How much leave is the employee entitled to take under the Illinois School Visitation Rights Act?

Must we grant time off so employees can participate in activities at their children’s schools?

02/11/2011
Q. An employee is asking for time off to attend a classroom activity for his child. Do we have to comply with this request?

In Illinois, what are the penalties for unpaid wages?

02/11/2011
Q. I heard that employers may soon be prosecuted for not paying employees on time. What are the penalties for employers that violate the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act?

Tale of the tape: Beware acting on recorded conversations

02/11/2011

Employers are sometimes tempted to monitor and record employees’ communications and activities. That can backfire. Fact is, there are limits on how employers can monitor employees. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed whether an employer may be liable for recording an employee’s private conversation in the workplace.

Jewel-Osco to pay $3.2 million for violations of the ADA

02/11/2011
Jewel-Osco—the conglomerate that owns the Supervalu, American Drug Stores and Jewel Food Stores chains—has agreed to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging it violated the ADA when it terminated employees after their medical leaves of absence ended.