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General

One of the Many Lessons Learned from the Pandemic: This Country is in Need of Guaranteed Paid Leave for Workers

In a country that has historically provided minimal legal protections for workers, the pandemic has certainly exposed how vulnerable our workforce truly is and the need for reform going forward. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), which went into effect in April of last year, was a step in the right direction. The FFCRA provided workers two main benefits: two weeks of paid sick leave due to COVID-19 related reasons and expanded paid leave under the Family Medical Leave...

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General

Pragmatic Changes Arrive for Illinois Practitioners

By Alexis D. Martin When it comes time for briefing, Illinois practitioners will find a dearth of State case law as compared with federal decisions. In part, this is due to the fact that federal trial courts may have their opinions published whereas Illinois trial courts rarely issue written opinions, let alone have them easily accessible online. Considering that the Circuit Court of Cook County – the nation’s second largest unified court system – still uses handwritten orders and carbon...

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General

Employment Policy Goals under the Biden Administration

During his presidential campaign and since his election in November 2020, President Biden has stressed his commitment to strengthening workers’ rights and improving work conditions in the U.S. He identified three primary focus areas to that end: Tamping down corporate abuses of power in the employment context; incentivizing workforce organization and collective bargaining; and improving the standards for pay, benefits, and protections at all workplaces. Chief among these, he has voiced support for increasing the federal minimum wage – which...

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General

President Biden Confronts a Packed Judiciary, Frozen in Time

In our 2017 newsletter, we observed that there were then 130 judicial vacancies to fill on the federal courts. We noted that the unusually high number was largely due to the Republican-controlled senate blocking dozens of President Obama’s appointees in the final years of his administration. Unsurprisingly, former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans were busy over the past four years, pushing a steady stream of predominantly young, White, male judges through to lifetime appointments at all levels of...

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Front Page News

Latinos Progresando Featured in New York Times

Latinos Progresando was recently featured in the New York Times as part of the "Neediest Cases" fund series. To read the article, click here. Latinos Progresando is a based Chicago not for profit that focuses on local issues related to immigration services and education, Latino culture, and strengthening communities. Mr. Caffarelli is proud to serve on the Board of Directors. For additional information please visit latinospro.org.

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Front Page News

Child-Care Options for Working Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Out of all the different workplace challenges that have emerged from the pandemic, workers being forced to balance child-care responsibilities while maintaining their jobs has proven to be among the most difficult. Currently, working parents are left with little options finding alternative child-care amid all the closures of schools, camps, and day-care facilities. As we approach a new school year which will likely be heavily focused on home-based online-learning programs, the number of options available to parents for child-care will...

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Front Page News

The Americans with Disabilities Act and COVID-19 Accommodations

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has left large segments of the workforce caught between a rock and a hard place: they can refuse to come to work and risk losing their job, or they can continue to go to work and risk their health and, potentially, their life. This is especially true when it comes to workers with underlying health conditions, which is where the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) comes in. The ADA is a federal...

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Front Page News

How to Request Sick Leave and FMLA Protections Under Expanded COVID-19 Laws

How to Request Sick Leave and FMLA Protections Under Expanded COVID-19 Laws Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), certain qualified employees have long been entitled to up to twelve weeks of leave for reasons including the birth of a new baby or to care for themselves or a family member with a serious health condition. While the FMLA has provided much-needed relief and job protection for countless workers over the years, in reality the law is relatively limited;...

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Front Page News

NEW COVID-19 Employee Protections – Expanded FMLA Protection and Paid Sick Leave

NEW COVID-19 Employee Protections - Expanded FMLA Protection and Paid Sick Leave On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. As part of this comprehensive economic stimulus plan, Congress affords greater protections for employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which will directly affect their rights in the workplace. FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE PLEASE CONTACT CAFFARELLI & ASSOCIATES LTD. AT 312-763-6880 OR ONLINE AT CAFFARELLI.COM. Specifically, two of the provisions in the Act affect...

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