The Wood Law Office, LLC

06/02/2024

They say when one door closes, another opens. In this case, that's true.

The Wood Law Office, LLC will be winding down. I'm excited to be helping open the Kaplan Law Firm, PLLC's Chicago office.

Look for more details soon!

09/02/2022

As we head into this Labor Day weekend, please try remember that workplace protections many of us enjoy were not easily won.

11/26/2020

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

08/13/2020

2020 has not been what any of us hoped. But imagine living through it knowing it would take you until today to finally earn what a white male earned in 2019?

08/28/2019

Overtime pay laws are often misunderstood and some employers use illegal practices to avoid paying overtime. It is important to know how overtime pay is defined, if you qualify for that overtime pay, and what to do if your employer is not complying with the law. To learn more about how Illinois overtime laws work and what is considered overtime work, check out our blog post.

National overtime laws have changed substantially in the last few years and Illinois OT laws are no exception. Find out more about current Illinois OT laws.

06/20/2019

Laws regarding workplace discrimination in Illinois are based on the Illinois Human Rights Act. To learn more about Illinois Discrimination laws, check out our blog post.

IDHR complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the discrimination. The IDHR has 365 days to review a claim. There are four potential outcomes.

06/06/2019

If you believe that you have been wrongfully terminated, you probably have many questions regarding potential legal action and how to make a claim against your employer. We have prepared a list of common questions and answers which may apply generally to employees that have wrongful termination claims.

If you believe that you've been wrongfully terminated, you may have many questions about making a legal claim against your employer. Let us help you here.

05/20/2019

Non-compete agreements in Illinois drew national attention in 2016. The state’s attorney general sued Jimmy John’s over non-compete agreements that it required of its sandwich makers and delivery drivers. Employees were required to sign the documents, which prevented them from working for a similar establishment for two years after leaving the company. Some may be surprised to learn that, such as in the case of Jimmy John’s, many low-wage workers are also expected to sign non-competes. To learn more about Illinois non-compete laws, check out our blog post.

Non-compete agreements limit the scope of future employment once a person leaves a company. Contact Bryan Wood to discuss options of a non-compete agreement.

05/13/2019

Many studies over the years have indicated that as a general rule, women make less money in the workplace than men do. The exact figures differ, but a central finding of these studies is that women make about 80 cents for every dollar that men earn. Take our quiz to see how much you know about the gender wage gap!

You've heard men make more money than women. This is called the Gender Wage Gap. Is it true? How serious is it? What can be done to close the gap for women and minorities. Learn how this cultural issue hurts both men and women, and the economy overall. Take the Gender Wage Gap quiz to test your know...

05/06/2019

Sexual harassment can affect anyone (regardless of gender) and be instigated by anyone. Anyone affected by the offensive conduct—not just the person to whom the conduct is directed to—can be a victim as well. In the age of the movement, companies may now find it advantageous to review their anti-harassment policies. To learn more about types of sexual harassment, check out our blog post.

http://bit.ly/2LAXLUK

04/17/2019

"In the United States, parents who are unable to work for family reasons such as pregnancy, bonding with a newborn or adopting a child, are only legally required to be offered up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons in a 12-month period under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)." Read more about why Maternity and Paternity leave is such contested topics in the United States.

If you or a loved one believes that they have been illegally denied family leave, contact us as soon as possible to discuss how best to take action.

04/10/2019

Even as high profile cases sweep headlines, there are still many sexual harassment cases that go unreported. Sexual harassment includes requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature and even inappropriate remarks about a person’s gender. There are two distinct forms of workplace sexual harassment recognized by the courts. To learn more, check out our blog post "Illinois Sexual Harassment Laws".

About 45 percent of the total workplace harassment charges filed with the federal EEOC in 2015 by private or local government workers were for sexual harassment. Despite the volume, such cases are difficult to prove and win so it’s critical to be prepared. Call (866) 629-4679 for help.