SBDC Announces "A Legal Primer for Hiring, Firing, and Everything in Between"

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University is collaborating with Miller, Hall, and Triggs, LLC (MHT) to discuss the challenges for small, self-employed business owners looking to hire, maintain and fire employees.

MHT has a broad range of legal services and is well known for their no-nonsense, straightforward labor and employment advice, along with other services offered to local employers.

This 2-part series will be beneficial to sole-proprietors who are considering hiring

their first employees and for small business looking to expand.

No cost to attend this virtual training.

You may register for either one or both.

From Self-Employed to Employer

A legal primer for hiring, firing and everything in between

Who should attend:

· Sole-proprietors who are considering hiring their first employees

· Small businesses looking to expand

· All businesses, especially those with questions about:

· Hiring and interviewing.

· Personnel records.

· Employee benefits.

· Personnel policies.

· COVID-19 concerns.

· Employee discipline.

· Termination and layoff.

· Unemployment.

· Special employment laws, like anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and labor laws.

· Businesses bargaining with a union or with employees seeking to organize.

Advantages to attendees:

· Attendees will be given an overview of the legal considerations and concerns new employers must address while hiring new employees to terminating problem employees and everything in between.

· Attendees will receive information and forms they can use to better learn and comply with applicable laws.

· Attendees will have the opportunity to ask and have their questions answered by our employment law gurus.

Session 1: Tuesday, January 25, 2022 | 11:00am - 1:00pm

(continues on January 26th)

Topics:

Initial Hiring and Interview Considerations - business organization; job descriptions and

employee manuals; advertisement; required documentation; questions you can and can’t ask; pre-screening (physical fitness, background checks, polygraph, drug tests).

Personnel Records and Notices - documentation practices, performance evaluations, records laws, medical records and privacy, required notices and postings, etc.).

Anti-discrimination, Anti-harassment, and Labor Laws - Unlawful acts; required and recommended prevention and training; best-practice investigations; hiring outside counsel; discipline; defenses, compliance with the NLRA, protected concerted activity, etc.).

Register Here - Session 1 | January 25

Session 2: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 | 11:00am - 1:00pm

(continuation from January 25th)

Topics:

Wage and Hour Laws – Minimum Wage and Equal Pay; Insurance; Salary v. Hourly; paid time v. unpaid time (travel, waiting, getting into uniform, etc.), vacation and holidays, withholding from pay, Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, etc.

Employment Agreements and Manuals – At-will and contractual employment; policies and manuals, use of company property; work-for-hire and independent contractors; non-compete, non-solicitation and confidential/non-disclosure provisions.

Ending Employment – Risk considerations; retirement; termination; severance, etc.

Register Here - Session 2 | January 26

Our Speakers:

Josh enjoys advising local employers regarding all aspects of employment, from interviewing employees, preparing personnel policies, navigating potential claims for liability, investigating employee misconduct, and even assisting employers having to terminate an employee when the situation calls for it. He regularly assists clients in avoiding potential lawsuits while they navigate the many state and federal laws applicable to Illinois employers.

Joshua Herman has practiced law since 2008, concentrating in employment and labor law, commercial law, municipal and school law, and related litigation. Joshua received his Bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. After his deployment to Iraq as an Army Reservist, Joshua attended the Chicago-Kent and the University of Illinois Colleges of Law.

While at the University of Illinois, Joshua received the Best Trial Advocate and Best Oral Advocate awards in addition to being on the Green National Moot Court Team. In 2008 he obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Rickert Awards for Excellence in Advocacy and Excellence in Academics. He is also a member of the Order of the Coif.

Katherine Swise has practiced law since 2010, concentrating in general litigation, including representing employers in litigation of employment matters, as well as municipal and school law and general litigation.

Katherine received her Bachelor’s degree in 2001 from Knox College. She later attended the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating summa cum laude in 2010. While at Illinois, Katherine was a member of the University of Illinois Law Review and the Order of the Coif.

Katherine is admitted to practice law in Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and is a member of the Peoria County, Tazewell County, and Illinois State Bar Associations and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys.