The current economic situation in this country has led to an increase in the use of unpaid internships by companies, especially unpaid internships for young people who have been hit particularly hard by unemployment.  However, employers need to be extra careful in this regard since the U.S.

On May 27, 2009, the Illinois legislature approved a significant overhaul to the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act, also know as VESSA, which requires covered employers to provide leave and other accommodations to employees and their family members who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence.  Once signed into law by the Governor, which is expected to be within the next several weeks, VESSA will be significantly broadened, not only increasing the protections offered to eligible emp

Introduced just recently into the House and Senate, the Federal Oversight, Reform, and Enforcement of the WARN Act (“FOREWARN Act”) would dramatically amend the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN Act”).  The FOREWARN Act was introduced in response to the significant rise in factory closings and mass layoffs currently being implemented in the United States.

The 2009 Edition of The Employment Law Toolkit by Arnstein & Lehr Partner E. Jason Tremblay is now available. The Employment Law Toolkit is a comprehensive resource highlighting the significant employment and labor issues facing Illinois employers in today’s business environment. It focuses on providing practical and cost-effective suggestions on how to avoid employment and labor-related liability and comply with many state and federal laws facing employers.

On March 19, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") released model COBRA notices required under the COBRA provisions of the 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act ("ARRA" or "Act").  As previously reported, the Act impacts COBRA coverage, and the means by which employers may claim the tax credit for COBRA subsidies paid under the Act.