At the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, two weeks into the Illinois Shelter-In-Place Order, I wrote a blog about insurance coverage for business losses due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. At the time of that blog, more than a billion people were under some sort of quarantine law, and numerous US states and foreign countries had […]
Business Law
Title VII and Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice Views in the Workplace
Undoubtedly, this week and for many weeks, months or years to come, a hot topic of discussion among Americans will be the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade. This is perhaps one of the most polarizing issues in this country and one of the most significant […]
UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE POLICIES FOR SMALL AND MIDSIZE BUSINESSES
Small to midsize businesses often do not have legal teams to advise them on the types of insurance coverage they need to protect their businesses. They rely upon the broker to assess their needs without fully understanding what an insurance policy is. Below are some insurance coverage basics for both the novice and a refresher […]
James Cook Co- Authors Article: “Business Information and Illinois FOIA Requests”
James Cook, an associate attorney with the Firm, has co- authored an article with his brother, William Cook, about the Freedom of Information Act. The article, “Business Information and Illinois FOIA Requests” is published in this month’s Illinois Bar Journal. The article gives a good overview of FOIA and the related issues facing businesses. McKenna […]
Employers Can Avoid Penalties for Failing to Comply with Illinois’ Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Law
The Illinois Workplace Transparency Act required all employers to train employees on sexual harassment prevention by December 31, 2020, and requires training thereafter on an annual basis. If your company failed to do so, there is still time to comply to avoid penalties.
Mandatory Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policies Receive Approval from the EEOC
Employers may be able to mandate that employees get a COVID-19 vaccination before returning to the workplace. The EEOC has updated its COVID-19 webpage to include a section regarding guidance on whether an employer-mandated vaccination policy would violate various federal laws. While the EEOC guidance does not directly state that mandatory vaccination policies are lawful, […]
Are “Karen Jokes” Just a Joke or Potential Evidence Against Employers of a Hostile Work Environment or Discrimination?
We have all seen “Karen Memes” or heard the “OK, Karen” refrain stated in response to what is basically a white, middle-aged woman, in a public place, acting in a manner that appears to stem from a sense of privilege. Karen memes show a white woman yelling to speak to a manager, belittling a worker, […]
BIPA Claims May Be Heard In Federal Court
In a recent decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that a federal district court could hear certain Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) claims. An issue in many BIPA lawsuits specifically, and in many data privacy lawsuits generally, is whether the court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear the case. The issue is usually […]
Businesses Face Criminal Penalties Yet Gain Protection Under Illinois Mask Rules
On August 11, 2020, Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker was successful in a second attempt to criminalize business owners who fail to enforce his mask rules. Under Illinois’ new mask rule, local police and prosecutors may impose criminal fines up to $2,500 to enforce his emergency mask order.
Employers Can Be Fined $2,500 For Failure To Enforce Mask Rules
On August 11, 2020, Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker was successful in a second attempt to criminalize business owners who fail to enforce his mask rules. Under Illinois’ new mask rule, local police and prosecutors may impose criminal fines up to $2,500 to enforce his emergency mask order.