Social pundits have said that kids who grew up in the 1970's are part of the “me generation”. They are forty and fifty somethings now. Our survival-of-the-fittest world encourages people to “look out for number one”. In that context, the fiduciary idea is...
Professional Service With A Personal Touch
Business
New Employee Reporting Requirement
Employers need to beware of the new requirement of the Illinois Employee Classification Act to file a report to the State Department of Labor for every independent contractor that is not incorporated or organized as an LLC. By January 31, 2015, contractors and...
Lord Coke, the Civil War & Corporations
What do Lord Coke, the Civil War and corporations (or LLCs) have in common? And how are they relevant to business today? The answer found in a recent case decided in March 2014 may surprise you. The case involving Stone Street Partners, LLC and the City of Chicago...
Hiring The Google Way
Education, skills and experience are important, but there is more to hiring than those traditional measures, so says Laszlo Bock, the senior vice president of people operations for Google. Unless you have been living in a cave (with no Internet connection), you know...
Contractor Beware: An Employee Classification Pitfall
Did you know that people hired by contractors are presumed to be employees by state law? – even if a contract calls them independent contractors! Beginning on January 14, 2014, individuals can be held liable for violations of the Employee Classification Act. If you...
A Rose by any Other Name: A Lesson in Corporate Formalities
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” said William Shakespeare; but what is in the name of a business? Would a business by any other name smell as sweet? As long as business is good it is sweet indeed; ah, but there is the rub. People who go into business...
Documenting Loans: A Best Practice
Many people have or will lend money to other people in their lifetimes. Often parents lend money to children. Sometimes friends lend money to friends. Businesspeople lend money to other businesspeople. There are many contexts in which one person loans money to...
Employer Beware: Restrictive Covenants
A case recently decided in the First District Appellate Court in Illinois (Cook County) will have a big impact on employers and employees who impose or are subject to restrictive covenants (non-solicitation and con-competition) clauses. Restrictive covenants in...
Clarity on Employees with Disabilities – Accommodation Requires Ability to Perform the Job
Employers and employees, alike, often misunderstand the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family Medical Leave Act. Some employees believe that employers must accommodate just about anything, and some employers fear that is true. Two recent...
Six Basic Steps to Getting Paid
One of the frustrations being a business owner is the failure of clients and customers to pay you for your services or the goods you sell. All types of businesses face this problem, including contractors, suppliers, medical providers, landlords and even attorneys. ...