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Illinois

Emanuel pick for school head will have to explain age remarks

05/13/2011
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s handpicked candidate to lead Chicago’s school system faces two lawsuits dating from his three-year tenure as the head of Rochester, N.Y., schools.

Complaint: anti-gay slurs, propositions by Jesse Jackson

05/13/2011
A former employee of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s Rainbow Push Coalition has filed what Chicago news outlets are calling a “bombshell” complaint with the Chicago Commission on Human Rights, alleging Jackson ridiculed him for being gay, and even asked him for oral sex on at least one occasion.

No additional claims in most sexual harassment cases

05/13/2011
In most cases, employees who file sexual harassment claims can’t add a host of other related claims. For example, an employee can’t add a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress if the behavior she describes was essentially sexual harassment.

Settling employee lawsuit? Withholding taxes usually OK

05/13/2011
Here’s something you may not have considered when agreeing to settle a nuisance case for a few thousand dollars. Most of the time, you will need to withhold federal and other taxes. Be­­cause of a relatively recent change at the IRS, unless payment is for a physical injury, the proceeds are fully taxable.

Court: Compensation based on employees’ market value may correct past pay bias

05/13/2011
Ever since Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, employers have had to struggle with evaluating their compensation plans to make sure they aren’t perpetuating past pay discrimination. Now a federal judge has suggested that a better approach to fixing the problem may be found in the free market. If employers use the market value of jobs as a major factor in setting compensation, then even those whose pay is lower than it would be without past discrimination will be paid fairly because their increases will be greater.

Quick application of anti-harassment policy cuts liability–even in highly charged race cases

05/13/2011

Perhaps nothing is more offensive—and terrifying—to black employees than the implicit message behind a noose. Triggering images of Jim Crow-era lynchings, the noose is a powerful symbol. But that doesn’t mean that its appear­ance at work always means employer liability.

Beware state law that could cost you millions

04/15/2011
If you need additional incentives to stop sexual harassment in the workplace, how’s this for a motivator: A court has ruled that employees who endure gender-related violence can now sue their employers for damages under the Illinois Gender Violence Act.

How do the new Illinois Equal Pay Act rules affect my record-keeping obligations?

04/14/2011
Q. I’ve heard that there are new Illinois Equal Pay Act regulations I have to follow. Does this affect my record-keeping?

Did Elmhurst firm raid pensions? EBSA, SEC want to know

04/14/2011
Elmhurst-based Results One Finan­cial and its co-founder Steve Salutric face charges of diverting more than $1 million from pension funds it managed.

Chicago contractor settles bias charge for $700,000

04/14/2011
InterCall, the world’s largest provider of teleconferencing services, will pay $700,000 to 151 minority job applicants after a DOL investigation concluded the company systematically excluded minority candidates from sales associate positions at its Chicago office in 2006 and 2007.