IL Passes Law Restricting Non-Competes and Non-Solicitation Agreements
On August 13, 2021 Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law broad restrictions on employee non-competes and non-solicitation agreements. The non-solicit restrictions apply to employer’s customers, as well as other employees. The new law applies to agreements executed with an employee on or after January 1, 2022. As of that date, the law bans: Non-competes with […]
Dane County Face Covering Emergency Order
Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) has issued a new Public Health Order, effective August 19, 2021 through September 16, 2021. The new order requires individuals to wear face masks indoors, employers to develop a policy providing and requiring face masks, and organizations to post a sign mandating face masks indoors. To address the […]
Maintaining a Respectful Workplace Post-COVID
While some organizations have been on site through the pandemic, others have returned in recent months. Many others are planning a more robust employee return to office in the coming weeks. As more employees return to work in the office, employers may need to reestablish and remind employees about expectations of workplace conduct to foster […]
Increased Fines for Not Posting Employment Posters
The federal government recently increased the fines employers may face for violating federal employment law posting requirements. Going forward, the potential posting fines are: Family and Medical Leave Act – $178 Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law – $13,653 Employee Polygraph Protection Act – $21,663 EEO is the Law – $576 Employers should also […]
HR Reporting Updates
There have been two important employer reporting updates for Human Resource practitioners. First, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced an extension of the deadline for submission of 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection to Monday, August 23, 2021. Please see Lake Effect’s prior blog on EEO-1 reporting requirements for more information. Second, […]
President Biden Signs Law Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law Juneteenth National Independence Day, making June 19 the 12th federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States in 1865, almost three years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1862. Most federal employees will observe the holiday on Friday, June 18 this […]
Mask mandates end, but employers have options
With mask orders lifting around the country, many employers are left wondering what to do in their own workplace. In most communities, employers have several options, including the following: Remove all masking requirements in your workplace or place of business Require all employees and visitors to wear masks at all times Allow fully vaccinated employees […]
Wisconsin Communities’ Face Covering Requirements Expiring
Outagamie County, Dane County, and the city of Milwaukee have joined the growing list of communities across the country that are lifting their mask and other COVID-related public health orders. Outagamie County lifted its face mask requirements on May 13, 2021. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) announced on May 18, 2021 that its […]
DOL Withdraws Final Rule on Independent Contractor Status under FLSA
On May 5, 2021, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a new final rule withdrawing the “Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act” final rule (Independent Contractor Rule) that had been published on January 7, 2021, to take effect on March 8, 2021. Of note, the DOL is not issuing new federal guidance […]
Major Provisions of Final Tip Pool Rule Become Effective April 30, 2021
Three main provisions of the US Department of Labor’s final tip pool rule take effect April 30, 2021. Other parts of the rule are delayed and could be further revised by the Biden Administration. For a complete discussion of the final rule, issued on December 22, 2020, please see Lake Effect’s prior blog on this […]
