Sadly, too many of my telephone conversations with clients over the past few months have involved layoffs. Furloughs. Elimination of jobs.

Of course, we’ve also discussed the great unknown of when some of these employees will be brought back to work.

At times, questions have arisen over how a furlough might impact an employee who

For the past month, I’ve been in the leave law trenches with several Littler colleagues Alexis KnappJim ParettiSebastian Chilco and Michael Lotito. The ‘virtual’ trenches, that is, which serves them well, as they have no clue I’ve spent nearly the entire time without a shower and in my PJs.

When

Let me start with a toast.

A toast to the Department of Labor, which was thrust into a spotlight it didn’t seek. After Congress hastily cobbled together a bunch of confusing words on paper providing many American workers with a modest amount of paid sick leave and amending the FMLA to do the same, DOL

Parental leave policies are on the rise.

Maternity. Paternity. Caregiver. You name it. I am drafting more of these policies than ever before.

So, you can imagine my interest when, last year, the EEOC sued skin care/fragrance behemoth Estée Lauder, claiming that its parental leave policies discriminated against men. According to the EEOC at

paid sick daysThis past week, paid sick leave legislation that is about to become law in Chicago.  It’s significant because it reflects a growing number of states and cities joining the mandated paid leave bandwagon.

Because the impending law will affect all of your operations located in Chicago, I provide analysis here:

Last week, Chicago became poised

New York paid family leave 1Could this be a game-changer when it comes to paid family and sick leave?

Yesterday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law what is being dubbed the country’s longest and most comprehensive paid family leave program, which allows employees partially paid leave to care for a family member or a newborn child.

New York