Employment Law Institute 2022

Expires: 4/1/2024

Program Moderators: Kathryn Hartrick, Hartrick Employment Law, Ltd., Chicago
Robert Bernstein, Laner Muchin, Ltd., Chicago 

Case Law Update
Two experienced attorneys, one from the defense side and the other from the plaintiff side, will present an update on the most recent employment law decisions from the United States Supreme Court, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and other Illinois Courts. They will present their respective views on the significance of these decisions for both employers and plaintiffs from both a legal and practical standpoint.
Robert Bernstein, Laner Muchin, Ltd., Chicago
Brenda Feis, Feis Goldy LLC, Chicago

Remote Work Checklist
Remote or hybrid work is probably here to stay. Experienced attorneys (two in-house and one defense side) will discuss the issues you should consider if you have employees working remotely: policies, accommodation requests, home offices, wage & hour issues, expense reimbursement, and MORE.
Allison Powers, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, Chicago
Susan Rider, Scharf Banks Marmor LLC, Chicago
Isabel Lazar, Baxter International Inc., Deerfield

Illinois Employment Law Update
What’s new and what areas should be on your radar for counseling businesses and individual employees.

• Restrictive Covenants – Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation provisions
• Sexual Harassment Training
• Illinois Human Rights Act Amendments
• Illinois Equal Pay Act Amendments
• Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act
• Chicago Anti-Retaliation Ordinance
• Victims’ Economic Security & Safety Act (VESSA)
• Local Paid Leave Laws & MORE

Jeremy Glenn, Cozen O'Connor, Chicago
Maureen Salas, Werman Salas, PC, Chicago

COVID Developments
With the constantly evolving developments related to COVID-19, a discussion of the current issues: litigation, vaccine mandates, accommodation requests, OSHA update.
Aaron R. Gelb, Conn Maciel Carey LLP, Chicago
Andy Marks, Walgreens, Deerfield

Featured Luncheon Presentation:
Agency Official Discusses the Inside Scoop - What Should Be On Your Radar
Diane Smason, Deputy Director at U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity, Chicago

Novel/Unconventional Discrimination Theories
A panel discussion of evolving employment law claims like reverse discrimination, intersectionality, associational discrimination, unconscious bias, microaggressions and MORE.

Panelists: Thurston Bailey, JBT Corporation, Chicago
Lori L. Deem, Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., Chicago
Paul Starkman, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago
Panel Moderator:  Kathryn M. Hartrick, Hartrick Employment Law, Ltd., Chicago

Wage & Hour Update
Changes and trends from the past year. Topics to be discussed include: notable recent wage & hour case law, DOL developments, biometric information privacy act update.
Antonio Caldarone, Laner Muchin, Ltd., Chicago
James B. Zouras, Stephan Zouras, LLP, Chicago

Heated Hallway Talk in Turbulent Times:
A Panel Discussion on Social, Political and DEI-Related Workplace Communications
(1.0 D&I & Professional Responsibility Credit)
As more companies and law firms return to the office full-time, employers must remain purposeful in fostering diversity, inclusion, belonging and engagement. The panel will discuss workplace communications related to political and social issues, such as:

• Coworkers talking politics;
• Corporate statements on current events;
• How our experiences leave all of us with blind spots and biases;
• Return-to-work and its potential unintended effects on minorities and women; and
• How inclusive leadership and companies’ and law firms’ DEI programs can help.

Panelists:  Ann H. Chen, TransUnion, Chicago
Marlén Cortez Morris, Ogletree Deakins, Chicago
Julius Rhodes, MPR Group, Chicago
Panel Moderator:  Michael H. Cramer, Ogletree Deakins, Chicago

Adjourn