The rules for undocumented workers and employment taxes and benefits are sometimes confusing. It is no surprise many workers are unaware of their rights to certain benefits. While you may qualify for things such as vacation pay and overtime pay, WTTW explains that you...
Fighting For Workers In Pay Disputes Since 1987
CHICAGO WAGE AND HOUR LAWS BLOG
At-will employment exceptions protect your employee rights
Unexpectedly losing your job likely impacted your ability to pay bills, buy groceries and keep your home. Although Illinois is an at-will employment state, legal protections for employees are in place. According to the Illinois Department of Labor, at-will employment...
How does wage-related discrimination occur?
Sometimes workplace discrimination is obvious. Your employer may deny you a promotion you have earned or perks of employment that other workers enjoy with no problems. However, in your case, you may not have noticed until recently that your employer is not paying you...
4 ways an employer might try to illegally control overtime pay
Managing a workforce in Illinois can quickly become challenging on numerous levels. From having the right contracts in place to training employees on operational guidelines, running an organization is a difficult, ongoing process. Unfortunately, some employers,...
Federal government issues new joint employer rules
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state law, employers may have to pay wages to employees who do not work directly for them. The federal government recently toughened its joint employer standards. Relaxed standards In 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor...
Know your rights as a tipped employee in Illinois
Many people in Chicago who work in the service industry rely on tips to make ends meet. Tips are especially important for these workers since the minimum wage for a tipped employee is $6.60 per hour in 2021 compared to the $11 per hour minimum wage non-tipped...
What are the penalties for wage and hour theft?
The basic implication for labor is that we are paid for that labor. When we show up for our shift, we expect to be paid for that time within a reasonable amount of time. And, usually, ever week or two, we get a paycheck for the time we spend at our employers. But,...
How were your employee rights violated?
When our readers in Chicago hear about “wage and hour violations,” they probably think it sounds like a bunch of “legalese.” But, the reality is that this area of the law may have more impact on your life than you realize. Wage and hour violations are, unfortunately,...
Classifying independent contractor employees
It is important for employees to be properly classified. Whether or not an employee is an independent contractor is generally measured by the degree of control the employer has over the independent contract versus the degree of independence the independent contractor...
Can an at-will employee sue for wrongful termination?
The reason many employers prefer hiring employees on at-will basis is the flexibility it allows. Employers may terminate at-will employees as they see fit, generally speaking. However, there are important exceptions. Certain laws and regulations prevent employers from...
