Author Archives: Site Administrator
What Does the Improving Commercial Real Estate Sector Mean for Businesses?
Last month the National Association of Realtors posted an article on the improving commercial real estate sector. Overall, this is good news for business. When the costs and rent for commercial properties rise, and sales increase, this indicates more job creation and decreasing energy expenses. It also leads to a higher demand for additional… Read More »
Are Drones A Legal Option for Businesses?
Are drones legal for commercial use? Our Hoffman Estates attorneys examine a recent story involving an Illinois farmer and his support of drones for simplifying his work. Drones could be the next innovative step in the long history of agriculture technology. How Can Drones Help Agricultural Workers? A farmer in Dwight Illinois has taken… Read More »
What Happens If You Do Not Leave a Will?
A recent news article discusses Mary Petroff of Granite City, who died at the age of 97 without a will. Her estate was worth $1.3 million dollars. Petroff was born to Bulgarian parents and raised in Granite City. She never married and never had any children. For much of her life, she lived with… Read More »
Checking an Employee’s Facebook or Twitter Account?
The question of whether an employer should check a worker’s social media account has become a divided issue without a clear answer. However, it is interesting to think about what others say about this matter. Is it a good management strategy? Is it a waste of time to even investigate people? Is it lawful… Read More »
Is Telecommuting A Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled Employees?
Recently, the Sixth Circuit made a decision on telecommuting accommodations in regards to disabled employees. Although, Illinois operates in the Seventh Circuit, this case is worth considering for any employer or disabled employee about to make a decision on telecommuting or on any other reasonable accommodation. This case pitted the Equal Opportunity Commission against… Read More »
Can My Boss Check My Facebook?
Due diligence or violation of freedom of speech? As a lawsuit in Houston challenges the state police department’s policy on social media, Hoffman Estates attorneys examine what Illinois laws say about employer and employee disputes arising from Tweets and Facebook posts. Houston Police Officer Sues Department for Unfair Social Media Policy Carl Pittman, a… Read More »
What Happens To Digital Accounts After A Loved One Passes?
“Digital assets” are a distinctly 21st century concern, referring to a person’s email, social media, digital photographs and even gaming avatars—pretty much anything you’ve created or stored on a computer. When we create this kind of online content, we never think about what might happen to it after we die. The reality is, though,… Read More »
What Constitutes Bad Faith If An Insurer Denies My Claim?
Bad faith, in a nutshell, is when an insurance carrier denies a claim illegally. It can occur in one of two ways: either an insurer improperly refuses to defend a lawsuit, or they improperly refuse to pay the settlement of a covered lawsuit. Bad faith is a fluid concept, defined primarily by court decisions… Read More »
Can Workers Lose Union Affiliation?
Working a union job comes with a host of benefits, including higher wages, medical insurance, vacations, workplace safety and job security. Many workers depend on unions to fight for adequate wages and standards of living. As such, it is unfortunate that the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine administration would allow 200 employees to… Read More »
Should I Receive Overtime Pay?
Most hourly workers receive overtime pay according to the rules set forth by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Those who do not receive overtime are deemed exempt by the FLSA. Generally, exempt employees are salaried and occupy managerial positions in which the exact number of hours they work in a week is not… Read More »