Reversing course from more than 30 years of precedent, the National Labor Relations Board significantly expanded its standard for determining when two entities constitute a single joint employer over a unit of employees. In so doing, the NLRB creates questions about a number of entity relationships such as parent corporation/subsidiary, contractor/subcontractor and franchisor/franchisee relationships.

The

Decision may have relevance for Illinois employers as well

Colorado marijuana flagIn a recent and somewhat surprising decision, the Colorado Supreme Court concluded that an employer legally fired an employee for violating the company’s zero-tolerance drug policy, even though the employee’s marijuana use was off-duty and legal under Colorado law.

The decision, Coats v. Dish Network, LLC

Contractors DatabaseThe U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on Wednesday aimed to clarify the test it uses to determine whether workers are classified as employees or independent contractors for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The guidance in the newly released Administrator’s Interpretation emphasizes the DOL’s inclusive definition

Hourly minimum rises to $10 on July 1, 2015, and will reach $13 in 2019

conceptual sign with words minimum wage increase  ahead over blue skyChicago’s Minimum Wage Ordinance takes effect July 1, 2015, raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.45 for tipped employees.

It provides for subsequent raises each July 1 until the hourly minimum wage reaches $13

Employers called to submit comments in next 60 days

Time - money. Business concept.After months of internal debates and conferences, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the long-anticipated proposed overtime rule today. If implemented, the proposed rule will significantly expand overtime pay for Americans under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Key things to know about the proposed

Discrimination and LawIn a concise, seven-page decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Muslim woman, Samantha Elauf, denied employment by clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (“Abercrombie”) after wearing a headscarf to her interview. The plaintiff was denied employment because her headscarf violated Abercrombie’s “Look Policy” which described the image Abercrombie sought to project within its

Linkedin WebsiteThe United States District Court for the Northern District of California recently dismissed a proposed class action alleging that LinkedIn was a Consumer Reporting Agency (“CSA”) under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and violated the law when it provided an online feature that allows businesses to check applicants’ references on the site without the

Blaisdell_AL-BLOGAmy Blaisdell was interviewed by Fox2News regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Young v. UPS, which addressed an employer’s obligation to accommodate women under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Additionally, effective 1/1/2015, Illinois has a new Pregnancy Fairness Law which places additional accommodation obligations on Illinois employers. Watch the interview.

5388576411_700edd78b2By a 6-3 majority, the Supreme Court created a potentially new standard by which employers’ accommodations given or denied to pregnant women will be judged under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”).

In Young v. UPS, the plaintiff, Peggy Young, was deemed unable to work her part-time driver position once her physician placed her

As two federal courts recognized in February 2015, Illinois law is unsettled as to the duration of continued employment that is sufficient consideration to support a non-compete agreement. In Bankers Life And Casualty v. Miller1,a February 2015 federal court decision applying Illinois law, the court held that there is no bright line test