Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges

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 experience of fearing she would not be taken seriously during job interviews or even in the workplace while wearing her natural hair. Christina and Matt analyze the need for such a law, the history of passing similar laws in other states, and how understanding and complying with this law can help you make work better.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Read Christina's blog post: Rock Your Crown! What Illinois Employers Should Know about Hair Discrimination

Listen to Christina's interview on WGN Radio 720: https://wgnradio.com/steve-and-johnnie/a-new-illinois-law-you-need-to-know-about/

The Prinz Law Firm

Christina Martinez

Matt Tedeschi

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 their discussion, Kristen, Amit, and Christina touch upon popular hysteria about the law and media coverage of employment issues, whether your non-compete is enforceable, and why workplace training is so important. Tune in to learn why YOU should care about employment law!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Amit Bindra

Christina Hynes Mesco

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 episode will empower you to make work better. Tune into this brief introduction and discover what future episodes will offer you!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Amit Bindra

In this episode of Tales from Around the Watercooler, Prinz staff describe how callers can best ensure their legal matters gets to an attorney. Paralegal (and former Intake Specialist) Marcet Crockett and current Intake Specialist Grace Moore discuss the process of handling communications with potential new clients at the firm. They provide listeners with first-hand insight into the information that intake staff like to have, the sort of questions they are likely to ask, and the best ways for callers to communicate with frontline legal staff so that their questions can be properly addressed. The duo also shares anecdotes of memorable callers, both serious and humorous. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking services from an employment attorney, or really from any legal office.

Stay Connected:

Looking for more information on how to get an attorney to take your case? See our blog post here.

Visit Marcet Crockett's firm profile here.

Visit Grace Moore's firm profile here.

In this episode, Kristen chats with two of The Prinz Law Firm's Associate Attorneys, Poonam Lakhani and Elizabeth Hanford. They discuss a recent policy implemented by the tech company Basecamp that banned employees from discussing political and social issues in the workplace. Our attorneys explore the legality of regulating conversations at work and the slippery slope that can occur when employers decide to do so. They also touch on the unique backlash such policies can incite, as well as their interplay with First Amendment rights. Kristen, Poonam, and Elizabeth position Basecamp's policy change as an example of a much larger discussion about socio-political conversations in the workplace and how they relate to fostering an environment of true diversity and inclusion. This episode is a must-listen for any employer or employee looking to know their rights regarding sensitive workplace conversations.

Stay Connected:

For more information on Basecamp's policy and what it means for employers, click here.

Kristen Prinz

Poonam Lakhani

Elizabeth Hanford

In this episode, Kristen chats with Poonam Lakhani, one of The Prinz Law Firm's associate attorneys, about how COVID-19 intersects with workplace privacy. Kristen & Poonam discuss whether businesses can require employees to get vaccinated, if an employer can ask about vaccine status, and workplace safety measures during the vaccine rollout. Kristen and Poonam also dive into the privacy concerns surrounding coronavirus outbreaks in the workplace and supply helpful procedures for handling such a scenario. This educational episode breaks down religious and medical exemptions to workplace requirements, as well as reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Kristen and Poonam leverage their combined expertise to educate both employees and employers on their rights as the pandemic continues to affect workplace dynamics.

Stay Connected:

Kristen's profile

Poonam's profile

Looking for more information?

For more information on COVID-19 and the workplace, view blog posts here.

In this episode, Kristen sits down with one of the firm's associate attorneys, Laura Lefkow-Hynes, to discuss a little-known but crucial law in Illinois named the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA). VESSA allows workers facing domestic violence to take time off of work, among other provisions. Kristen & Laura take a deep-dive into the origins of VESSA, whom it protects, and how to address VESSA rights for you or a loved one in your workplace. They also underline the importance of prioritizing personal safety and mental health services across workplaces. With helpful examples of VESSA violations at work and common protections employers can provide, Laura and Kristen break down where and how this Act can be used to protect workers. This episode is a must-listen for any employee or employer looking for accessible information about VESSA.

Looking for more information about VESSA? Check out our blog: "Illinois' VESSA Law Offers Protection to Victims of Sexual Violence."

Stay Connected:

Kristen Prinz on LinkedIn

Laura Lefkow-Hynes on LinkedIn

In this episode, Mike Michalowicz, innovative entrepreneur and author of seven books, sits down with Kristen to discuss what is perhaps his most impactful work, Profit First. Mike shares the heartbreaking story that eventually led him to write this book as well as how the principle of "profit first" can facilitate positive change in a business. Kristen and Mike also discuss the effect that "profit first" can have on company culture and how to shape that effect. Tune in to hear a fascinating conversation between employment attorney and creative entrepreneur to learn how to create and grow a healthy business with happy employees.

Mike's Story:

Mike Michalowicz is a successful entrepreneur and former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal. He is also the well-known author of several business guides, including Fix This Next, Clockwork, Surge, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, The Pumpkin Plan, and Profit First.

Mike started his entrepreneurial journey young: he was awarded the New Jersey Small Business Association's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award when he was just 26 and had launched three multi-million dollar companies before his 35th birthday. Today, Mike leads two new multi-million-dollar ventures, as he tests his latest business research for his books. As a result of his ambitious career, Simon Sinek has deemed Mike Michalowicz "…the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs."

Stay Connected:

Mike Michalowicz's website

Mike's Twitter

Mike on Facebook

Mike on LinkedIn

Mike's Blog

Mike on Instagram

In this episode, Kristen and fellow Prinz Law Firm Partner Amit Bindra do a deep dive into non-compete agreements. Amit has significant experience litigating these matters and is also the author of a bill currently pending in the Illinois legislature: H.B. 789 and its counterpart, S.B. 3430. In this episode, Amit educates us on what non-competes really are, when they apply, and the advantages and disadvantages they hold for both employers and employees.

Stay Connected:

• Amit Bindra on LinkedIn
• Kristen Prinz on LinkedIn

Read Our Firm's Blog Posts on Non-Competes:

• Mistakes to Avoid When Drafting Non-Compete & Non-Solicit Agreements
• Hiring an Employee with a Non-Compete or Non-Solicit Agreement
• The Dangers of the Unenforcable Non-Compete
• An Illinois Appellate Court Confirms the Two-Year Rule for Non-Compete Agreements
• You've Been Sued: 4 Steps for Handling a Non-Compete Dispute
• Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Clauses: What's the Difference?

Firm Videos:

• When is a Non-Compete Enforceable?

In this episode, Kristen announces the re-launch of Tales From Around The Water Cooler as it centers even more on workplace stories and employment law. Kristen and fellow Prinz Law Firm attorney Christina Hynes Mesco dive into a dynamic discussion of the meaning of the well-known phrase "wrongful termination." They provide specific anecdotes from their legal experience, including the many grounds employees have been given for their terminations. By the end of this episode, you will have shared in Christina and Kristen's wealth of knowledge and gained a better understanding of the law.

Stay Connected:

Firm Blogs on Wrongful Termination: www.prinz-lawfirm.com/our-blog

What Does "Wrongful Termination" Really Mean? www.prinz-lawfirm.com/video-center