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David B. Ritter

Must we pay for lactation breaks?

03/14/2011
Q. Are employers required to pay employees for break time taken under the Nursing Mothers Law?

What are the new rules affecting breastfeeding?

03/14/2011
Q. What does the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law (also known as the Nursing Mothers Law) contained in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) require of employers?

Handling layoffs: Can waivers cut your WARN Act liability?

03/14/2011
Mass layoffs trigger employer obligations under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires some employers to provide advance written notice of a “plant closing” or “mass layoff” to their employees. But sometimes, those obligations can be waived. A recent 7th Circuit case—Ellis v. DHL Express, Inc.—held that employees who voluntarily entered into a severance agreement released their employer from liability under the WARN Act.

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.

Does GINA apply if a supervisor accidentally learns about an employee’s genetic information?

01/14/2011
Q. If one of our managers overhears an employee discussing his genetic information, is our company liable under GINA?

Who’s covered by GINA, the ‘genetic information’ law?

01/14/2011
Q. Which employers are required to comply with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and who does GINA protect?