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Illinois

Doubtful disability? Exercise patience anyway

10/18/2011

Occasionally, it may seem like an employee is exaggerating a disability and being difficult just for the sake of being difficult. That’s no reason to reject her claims outright. Instead, focus on following your usual ADA accommodations process.

Take control of your internal complaint process

10/18/2011
Employees can’t be punished for reporting alleged discrimination. That would be retaliation. But with­­in reasonable limits, managers have the right to tell employees how to report alleged discrimination.

DOL: Company president pumped assets out of fund

10/03/2011
The Employee Benefits Secu­r­ity Administration (EBSA) is suing Keith Davis, owner of Elmhurst-based A.B.D. Tank & Pump Co., claiming he drained his employees’ retirement fund of $1.9 million.

Feds sue Northbrook union fund for improper lending

10/03/2011
The Dol has sued the United Employee Benefit Fund in Northbrook and its trustees, following an investigation by the Employee Benefits Security Admin­istration that found the defendants violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by making improper loans.

Even stupid remark won’t sink legitimate discharge case

10/03/2011
Supervisors sometimes say incredibly dumb things. But those remarks won’t necessarily create liability—if you have carefully documented employee performance.

Cut retaliation liability risk by taking action on all harassment complaints

10/03/2011

All too often, sexual harassment involving just two people de­­volves into a he said/she said stand-off. But if the alleged harassment occurs at work, you must act to stop it or you’ll risk liability. Fortunately, you don’t have to be absolutely right about what happened.

What’s the NLRB’s real stance on employees’ social media criticism of employers?

09/21/2011
Q. We’ve heard about the National Labor Relations Board’s focus on an employee’s right to post critical work-related comments on Facebook. However, we also heard that the NLRB has started to limit its view on whether such comments are protected concerted activity. What’s going on? 

Treating some minorities well doesn’t excuse bias against others

09/21/2011
By now, every employer understands that Title VII prohibits discriminating against employees because of their race. A recent 7th Circuit case makes clear a subtle but important point about race bias: Employers can’t de­­fend discrimination against some members of a protected class by claiming they don’t discriminate against all members of that class.

Temp agency faces ADA suit over on-the-job seizure

09/21/2011
Genie Temporary Services faces EEOC disability discrimination charges after it fired a temp em­­ployee who had an epileptic seizure at a client site in LaSalle.

Illinois workers’ comp reform rules now in effect

09/21/2011
The state of Illinois has taken a series of steps to cut employers’ workers’ compensation costs. Employers should consult with their workers’ comp carriers to ensure workplace injury reporting procedures and posted notices are up-to-date and comply with the new law. The following reforms took effect Sept. 1: