Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges

In an unusual turn of events, the New York Knicks filed a lawsuit against the Toronto Raptors in August 2023, right before the start of the NBA season. The Knicks alleged theft of confidential and proprietary information after the Raptors hired a former Knicks employee. Now a court has ordered the dispute to go to private arbitration.   Amit Bindra and Kristin Hendriksen break down this unique spo...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) effectively banned non-compete agreements nationwide, a rule set to take effect on September 4, 2024. Yet two federal courts have arrived at opposing conclusions as to whether the FTC has the authority to enact the ban, and one of the courts will only make a definitive ruling in late August, days before the rule is set to become law. What are businesses and emplo...

Business attorneys Katie Rinkus and Amit Bindra will tell you all you need to know about independent contractor agreements in this episode. They begin by distinguishing between employees and independent contractors, or "1099" workers, and the dangers of misclassifying workers. Then they dive into the main provisions to be included in a 1099 agreement, explaining key terms along the way, such as "s...

Employment attorney Kristin Hendriksen draws on her experience in a past life in restaurant operations to discuss the WARN Act and recent business closures with Matt Tedeschi, an employment paralegal and Marketing Manager at the firm.   Kristin and Matt explain what the WARN Act is and why it was passed before discussing the sudden shuttering of all locations of Dom's and Foxtrot and the terminati...

In a sweeping action, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published its final rule on non-competes, effectively banning them completely. Both individuals and businesses are wondering what this means for them currently and in the future. Employment attorneys and business counselors Amit Bindra and Rebecca Chmielewski examine what is likely to happen next and what both employees and employer...

Some states require that certain business entities register as a PLLC (or professional limited liability company) and not simply as an LLC (limited liability company). Business and employment attorneys Katie Rinkus and Rebecca Chmielewski discuss the distinction between LLCs and PLLCs and the requirements for forming a PLLC under Illinois law. They specifically address both how to convert an exist...

Employment attorneys and business counselors Katie Rinkus and Poonam Lakhani discuss the top 10 essential things to know or do when hiring your first employee. From how to conduct a background check to when to use a confidentiality agreement or register with state agencies, Katie and Poonam cover the gamut of concerns that business owners encounter when they are finally ready to become employers....

Seasoned workplace investigators Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco discuss one of their favorite topics: culture audits! They discuss how audits can help prevent workplace problems before they arise, enabling organizations to avoid the costs of poor company culture: legal liability, legal fees, and lost productivity. More than that, culture audits signal to employees that the organization ca...

Kristen Prinz welcomes to the mic Chiquita Hall-Jackson, a lawyer, DEI consultant, and community advocate known as the "Discrimination Disrupter." Chiquita strives to dismantle systems of bias, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace, and is recently the author of We Gon' Be Alright: A Black Executive's Guide to Navigating Workplace Dynamics .   In their wide-ranging conversation, Kristen and...

Employment attorney Amit Bindra unpacks two recent attempts to ban non-competes. Starting with the successful legal ban in Minnesota, Amit explains why the prohibition is novel and addresses certain exemptions under the new law. He then turns to the state legislature's attempt at banning non-competes in New York, highlighting the proposed law's exemptions and penalties. While ultimately unsuccessf...

Employment attorney and business counselor Poonam Lakhani joins marketing manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi to address the most significant new employment laws taking effect in Illinois in 2024. From minimum wage increases and new paid leave requirements to increased employer liability for workplace sexual assault, the new year will see the evolution of work across the state. Whether you are an...

Employment attorney and business counselor Poonam Lakhani discusses various types of workplace leave with marketing manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi. They address recent trends in leave requirements as well as compliance challenges for businesses across jurisdictions. Poonam and Matt particularly focus on new paid time off laws in Illinois and Chicago, exploring their main components and what t...

Does your business want to throw a holiday party but you're afraid of potential shenanigans…and the liability that might result from them? In this episode geared toward employers, Marketing Manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi welcomes Laura Feldman, plaintiff's employment attorney and specialist on workplace sexual assault, to discuss what every employer should do before, during, and after a party...

Managing Partner Kristen Prinz and transactional attorney Katie Rinkus discuss the Corporate Transparency Act, a new federal law requiring all companies to report information related to company ownership. Although the law's intent was to combat the creation of shell companies, Kristen and Katie discuss what this means for your business: who can see your information, when and how to file, and wheth...

This episode focuses on the mental health benefits that workplaces can provide to workers. Kristen Prinz welcomes to the mic Sarah Malavenda, a trained psychotherapist and the Co-Founder & COO of Samata Health, and Angelia Salgado, the firm's Operations Manager who recently earned an M.A. in mental health counseling.   Kristen, Sarah, and Angelia discuss the prevalence of burn-out, the fact that i...

Prinz Partner Amit Bindra elucidates three recent rulings of the Delaware Chancery Court, one of the nation's foremost non-compete courts. Two of the decisions involved business acquisitions, while a third addressed forfeiture clauses. Notably, the Court refused to enforce non-compete agreements in all three of these cases. Find out why in this episode, as Amit walks us through the Court's reasoni...

What would you do if an employee reported that a colleague kissed her without her permission at the company holiday party? Our attorneys say: investigate! From their experience as employment attorneys and workplace investigators, Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco outline the nuts and bolts of conducting a workplace investigation in this episode.   Using the true-life example of the involunta...

Allegations from former dancers that Lizzo created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment and even false imprisonment have rocked the singer and body positivity icon's image, leaving many of her fans stunned. Employment attorney Christina Hynes Mesco and paralegal Allison Wolcott clarify the situation and explain what it can reveal to us about our own workplaces. Allison provi...

Prinz attorney Poonam Lakhani and Laura Lefkow-Hynes discuss all things unlimited PTO in this episode! Reflecting on the trend in corporate America to increasingly offer unlimited PTO, Poonam and Laura address both the benefits and pitfalls of an unlimited PTO policy. Businesses must think through and balance various considerations before drafting a policy to ensure its clarity and applicability....

Kristen Prinz welcomes Alexandra Eidenberg, president and founder of The Insurance People, an award-winning insurance agency specializing in employee benefits, individual health insurance, and Medicare. Kristen and Alexandra discuss the variety of ways that health insurance can be related to one's employment, touching upon employer plans, individual plans, Illinois coverage continuation, and COBRA...

Prinz Partner Amit Bindra unpacks everything you've ever wanted to know about non-competes: what a non-competition agreement is, where employees are likely to see them, and how long they typically last. Amit also addresses how non-competes are related to other restrictive provisions, such as non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, and the typical timeline of a non-compete lawsuit. He high...

You might have heard in the news of workplace investigations underway at any number of companies that have been struck with controversy. Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco are both employment attorneys and experienced workplace investigators. In this episode, they delve into what exactly a workplace investigation is, what sort of matters might be investigated in the workplace, and how you sho...

In this episode, Paralegal Supervisor Christina Martinez tackles the topic of hair discrimination with Matt Tedeschi, Marketing Manager and an employment paralegal at the firm. Basing their discussion on a blog post Christina wrote and her subsequent interview with WGN Radio 720, they address a new law that bans hair discrimination in Illinois, including in employment.   Christina shares her own e...

Prinz attorneys and business counselors Kristen Prinz, Amit Bindra, and Christina Hynes Mesco hold an animated conversation on why you should care about employment law. They point out that employees themselves are concerned with what the law says, knowing and implementing the law can protect employers against liability, and compliance helps to improve overall workplace culture. In the course of th...

The signature podcast of The Prinz Law Firm has been rebranded and rebooted! Now known as "Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges," this podcast will continue to discuss leading issues in employment law, human resources, business planning, and career growth. In this first episode, partners Kristen Prinz and Amit Bindra discuss the unique nature of this podcast and how each episo...