Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges

Seasoned workplace investigators Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco discuss one of their favorite topics: culture audits! They discuss how audits can help prevent workplace problems before they arise, enabling organizations to avoid the costs of poor company culture: legal liability, legal fees, and lost productivity. More than that, culture audits signal to employees that the organization cares about them and their input, and takes workplace culture seriously. This episode is for anyone who wants to get the pulse of their organization and maintain a healthy work environment.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Christina Hynes Mesco

Kristen Prinz welcomes to the mic Chiquita Hall-Jackson, a lawyer, DEI consultant, and community advocate known as the “Discrimination Disrupter.” Chiquita strives to dismantle systems of bias, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace, and is recently the author of We Gon’ Be Alright: A Black Executive's Guide to Navigating Workplace Dynamics.

In their wide-ranging conversation, Kristen and Chiquita address the difficulties that minority employees often face in the workplace, especially women of color, including remaining unseen and being passed over for promotion. Chiquita encourages employees to use these situations as opportunities to educate their colleagues, and she advises workers to use their voices to advocate for themselves and to make room in the workplace for the diverse talent that will come after them.

Kristen and Chiquita discuss their own experiences, the necessity of charting your own career path and goals, and the difficult choice workers must sometimes face: to stay within a system that can be difficult to navigate or to strike out on your own.

This episode will enable you to become a bolder you at work, more aligned with your own values and career goals. Perhaps more than anything else, you will learn some tools to “be alright” and continue navigating the dynamics of challenging workplaces.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Chiquita Hall-Jackson’s personal website

We Gon’ Be Alright: A Black Executive's Guide to Navigating Workplace Dynamics

Chiquita Hall-Jackson on LinkedIn

Hall-Jackson and Associates, P.C.

Employment attorney Amit Bindra unpacks two recent attempts to ban non-competes. Starting with the successful legal ban in Minnesota, Amit explains why the prohibition is novel and addresses certain exemptions under the new law. He then turns to the state legislature’s attempt at banning non-competes in New York, highlighting the proposed law’s exemptions and penalties. While ultimately unsuccessful, the move to ban non-competes in New York will likely see an Act 2 in the next legislative session. Amit closes by offering some practical guidance for both employees and employers as they navigate a new legal landscape in jurisdictions that have recently banned non-competes.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Amit Bindra

Connect with Amit on Twitter

Read Amit’s blog post on Minnesota’s non-compete ban

Matt Tedeschi

Employment attorney and business counselor Poonam Lakhani joins marketing manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi to address the most significant new employment laws taking effect in Illinois in 2024. From minimum wage increases and new paid leave requirements to increased employer liability for workplace sexual assault, the new year will see the evolution of work across the state. Whether you are an employee, in management, or a business owner, tune in to learn about what these changes might mean for you!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Poonam Lakhani

Matt Tedeschi

Read Poonam’s blog post on new employment laws of 2024

Read Matt’s blog post on Chicago’s new paid leave law

Read Matt’s blog post on Illinois’s paid leave law

Access the State of Illinois’s FAQ’s on the paid leave law

Read our post on pay data reporting

Read Laura Feldman’s post on the Illinois Gender Violence Act

Employment attorney and business counselor Poonam Lakhani discusses various types of workplace leave with marketing manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi. They address recent trends in leave requirements as well as compliance challenges for businesses across jurisdictions. Poonam and Matt particularly focus on new paid time off laws in Illinois and Chicago, exploring their main components and what they might mean for you, whether you are a business owner or an employee. 

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Poonam Lakhani

Matt Tedeschi

Read Poonam’s blog post on complying with leave laws

Read Matt’s blog post on Chicago’s new paid leave law

Read Matt’s blog post on Illinois’s paid leave law

Access the State of Illinois’s FAQ’s on the paid leave law

Read Poonam’s blog post on unlimited PTO policies

Does your business want to throw a holiday party but you’re afraid of potential shenanigans…and the liability that might result from them? In this episode geared toward employers, Marketing Manager and paralegal Matt Tedeschi welcomes Laura Feldman, plaintiff’s employment attorney and specialist on workplace sexual assault, to discuss what every employer should do before, during, and after a party to minimize the likelihood of harassment, assault, and other legal claims. Perfect for HR representatives, in-house counsel, and anyone else involved in risk assessment, this episode will help you throw a party that’s both fun and professional—and prevents you from getting a call from Laura the next day.

Content notice and trigger warning: This episode discusses sexual assault and other misconduct in the workplace that may be uncomfortable for certain listeners. Our presenters’ lighthearted exchange is not meant to detract from the seriousness of this topic. If you need support in discussing sexual assault, you can call RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) at 800.656.HOPE.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Laura Feldman

Matt Tedeschi

Read Laura’s blog post, “How to Steer Clear of Trouble at Your Company Holiday Party”

Managing Partner Kristen Prinz and transactional attorney Katie Rinkus discuss the Corporate Transparency Act, a new federal law requiring all companies to report information related to company ownership. Although the law’s intent was to combat the creation of shell companies, Kristen and Katie discuss what this means for your business: who can see your information, when and how to file, and whether there are exemptions under the law. Tune in today to ensure your business is compliant with these new regulations.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Katie Rinkus

Katie’s blog post on the Corporate Transparency Act

This episode focuses on the mental health benefits that workplaces can provide to workers. Kristen Prinz welcomes to the mic Sarah Malavenda, a trained psychotherapist and the Co-Founder & COO of Samata Health, and Angelia Salgado, the firm’s Operations Manager who recently earned an M.A. in mental health counseling.

Kristen, Sarah, and Angelia discuss the prevalence of burn-out, the fact that it’s become more acceptable to discuss mental health in the workplace, and whether there is a shortage of therapists. Then they dig into the variety of mental health benefits available to companies, including traditional benefits provided by health insurance, legacy EAPs, and premium benefits offered by third party providers, such as Samata Health.

Sarah reveals how a premium benefits program works for employers, especially small businesses, and why it is often a superior option for employees compared with other options. She also explains how Samata Health can make a profit while supporting its individual therapist providers. This is a great episode for HR folks, business owners, individual therapists, and anyone else interested in making work better through improving mental health.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Angelia Salgado

Sarah Malevenda on LinkedIn

Samata Health on LinkedIn

Samata Health website

Prinz Partner Amit Bindra elucidates three recent rulings of the Delaware Chancery Court, one of the nation’s foremost non-compete courts. Two of the decisions involved business acquisitions, while a third addressed forfeiture clauses. Notably, the Court refused to enforce non-compete agreements in all three of these cases. Find out why in this episode, as Amit walks us through the Court’s reasoning, the potential impact these decisions could have on businesses, and how these holdings are part of a larger trend in non-compete regulation across the country.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Amit Bindra

Connect with Amit on Twitter

Read Amit’s blog post on the Delaware Trilogy

Matt Tedeschi

What would you do if an employee reported that a colleague kissed her without her permission at the company holiday party? Our attorneys say: investigate! From their experience as employment attorneys and workplace investigators, Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco outline the nuts and bolts of conducting a workplace investigation in this episode.

Using the true-life example of the involuntary kiss, they address what to do if your employee reports harassment, including the importance of avoiding knee-jerk reactions and setting reported events in their proper context. They also touch upon documentary evidence, including electronic data, and in-person interviews. And since obtaining helpful answers often depends on how questions are phrased, Kristen and Christina offer a few helpful techniques that can be used in any conversation. They also emphasize why a trauma-informed approach is helpful when assessing the credibility of witnesses, before discussing drafting an investigation report and making recommendations to help better the business for all parties involved.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone in HR or in-house counsel, and for anyone else tasked with getting to the bottom of things in the workplace!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Christina Hynes Mesco

Read Christina’s blog on conducting effective investigations

Allegations from former dancers that Lizzo created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment and even false imprisonment have rocked the singer and body positivity icon’s image, leaving many of her fans stunned. Employment attorney Christina Hynes Mesco and paralegal Allison Wolcott clarify the situation and explain what it can reveal to us about our own workplaces. Allison provides insight into the allegations by drawing on her years as a professionally trained dancer, revealing the sometimes brutal treatment dancers receive. Christina defines what constitutes harassment and a hostile work environment and what both employees and employers can do in response. Christina and Allison provide a legally-informed and very human account of how the workplace can get messy, reminding us that everyone—even our icons—is subject to employment laws and expected to form healthy workplaces.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Read Christina and Allison’s blog post on the Lizzo lawsuit

The Prinz Law Firm

Christina Hynes Mesco

Allison Wolcott

Prinz attorney Poonam Lakhani and Laura Lefkow-Hynes discuss all things unlimited PTO in this episode! Reflecting on the trend in corporate America to increasingly offer unlimited PTO, Poonam and Laura address both the benefits and pitfalls of an unlimited PTO policy. Businesses must think through and balance various considerations before drafting a policy to ensure its clarity and applicability. But once a policy exists, it may lead to unintended consequences, such as claims of discrimination or favoritism in how the policy is implemented. Poonam and Laura offer best practices for employers on how to develop a policy that best suits both its business needs and workplace culture. They also identify what employees should look for when joining a new workplace that offers unlimited PTO.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Poonam Lakhani

Poonam’s blog post on PTO

Laura Lefkow-Hynes

Kristen Prinz welcomes Alexandra Eidenberg, president and founder of The Insurance People, an award-winning insurance agency specializing in employee benefits, individual health insurance, and Medicare. Kristen and Alexandra discuss the variety of ways that health insurance can be related to one’s employment, touching upon employer plans, individual plans, Illinois coverage continuation, and COBRA. They also address what to keep in mind when your employment is coming to an end and what to look for when determining which insurance option is best for you. If you’ve ever had questions about health insurance, how it’s tied to employment, and what to do when it’s not, this is the episode for you!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Alexandra Eidenberg

Alexandra has been a licensed agent for 18 years, an agency owner for 13 years, and is locally and nationally recognized for her leadership, both as an insurance agent and a community leader. She is deeply passionate about her community and helping people.

The Insurance People

In 2022, The Insurance People was named the #1 US Small Group Agency by Mutual of Omaha, the #2 Illinois Agency by UnitedHealthcare, the Small Group Business Partner of the Year by Delta Dental of Illinois, and was awarded Elite Plus Status by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Insurance People is known and loved for its exemplary customer service.

The Insurance People on Facebook

The Insurance People on Instagram

The Insurance People on LinkedIn

Prinz Partner Amit Bindra unpacks everything you’ve ever wanted to know about non-competes: what a non-competition agreement is, where employees are likely to see them, and how long they typically last. Amit also addresses how non-competes are related to other restrictive provisions, such as non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, and the typical timeline of a non-compete lawsuit. He highlights what employers and employees should be aware of--both when employment begins and ends--to best protect their respective interests.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Amit Bindra

Connect with Amit on Twitter

Blog of The Prinz Law Firm (choose “non-compete” from the drop-down menu)

Matt Tedeschi

You might have heard in the news of workplace investigations underway at any number of companies that have been struck with controversy. Kristen Prinz and Christina Hynes Mesco are both employment attorneys and experienced workplace investigators. In this episode, they delve into what exactly a workplace investigation is, what sort of matters might be investigated in the workplace, and how you should determine whether to bring in an external investigator or keep an inquiry in house. Finally, they highlight the various ways that workplace investigations make work better. This is a must-listen episode for anyone in HR or in-house counsel, and for anyone else tasked with getting to the bottom of things in the workplace!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Christina Hynes Mesco

Read Christina’s blog on conducting workplace investigations

In this episode, Paralegal Supervisor Christina Martinez tackles the topic of hair discrimination with Matt Tedeschi, Marketing Manager and an employment paralegal at the firm. Basing their discussion on a blog post Christina wrote and her subsequent interview with WGN Radio 720, they address a new law that bans hair discrimination in Illinois, including in employment.

Christina shares her own experience of fearing she would not be taken seriously during job interviews or even in the workplace while wearing her natural hair. Christina and Matt analyze the need for such a law, the history of passing similar laws in other states, and how understanding and complying with this law can help you make work better.

Stay Connected & Learn More:

Read Christina’s blog post: Rock Your Crown! What Illinois Employers Should Know about Hair Discrimination

Listen to Christina’s interview on WGN Radio 720: https://wgnradio.com/steve-and-johnnie/a-new-illinois-law-you-need-to-know-about/

The Prinz Law Firm

Christina Martinez

Matt Tedeschi

Prinz attorneys and business counselors Kristen Prinz, Amit Bindra, and Christina Hynes Mesco hold an animated conversation on why you should care about employment law. They point out that employees themselves are concerned with what the law says, knowing and implementing the law can protect employers against liability, and compliance helps to improve overall workplace culture.

In the course of their discussion, Kristen, Amit, and Christina touch upon popular hysteria about the law and media coverage of employment issues, whether your non-compete is enforceable, and why workplace training is so important. Tune in to learn why YOU should care about employment law!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Amit Bindra

Christina Hynes Mesco

The signature podcast of The Prinz Law Firm has been rebranded and rebooted! Now known as “Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges,” this podcast will continue to discuss leading issues in employment law, human resources, business planning, and career growth.

In this first episode, partners Kristen Prinz and Amit Bindra discuss the unique nature of this podcast and how each episode will empower you to make work better. Tune into this brief introduction and discover what future episodes will offer you!

Stay Connected & Learn More:

The Prinz Law Firm

Kristen Prinz

Amit Bindra

In this episode of Tales from Around the Watercooler, Prinz staff describe how callers can best ensure their legal matters gets to an attorney. Paralegal (and former Intake Specialist) Marcet Crockett and current Intake Specialist Grace Moore discuss the process of handling communications with potential new clients at the firm. They provide listeners with first-hand insight into the information that intake staff like to have, the sort of questions they are likely to ask, and the best ways for callers to communicate with frontline legal staff so that their questions can be properly addressed. The duo also shares anecdotes of memorable callers, both serious and humorous. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking services from an employment attorney, or really from any legal office.

Stay Connected:

Looking for more information on how to get an attorney to take your case? See our blog post here.

Visit Marcet Crockett’s firm profile here.

Visit Grace Moore’s firm profile here.

In this episode, Kristen chats with two of The Prinz Law Firm’s Associate Attorneys, Poonam Lakhani and Elizabeth Hanford. They discuss a recent policy implemented by the tech company Basecamp that banned employees from discussing political and social issues in the workplace. Our attorneys explore the legality of regulating conversations at work and the slippery slope that can occur when employers decide to do so. They also touch on the unique backlash such policies can incite, as well as their interplay with First Amendment rights. Kristen, Poonam, and Elizabeth position Basecamp’s policy change as an example of a much larger discussion about socio-political conversations in the workplace and how they relate to fostering an environment of true diversity and inclusion. This episode is a must-listen for any employer or employee looking to know their rights regarding sensitive workplace conversations.

Stay Connected:

For more information on Basecamp’s policy and what it means for employers, click here.

Kristen Prinz

Poonam Lakhani

Elizabeth Hanford