OBKC&G counsels clients in all aspects of labor and employment law. Several of our attorneys have spent their entire legal careers practicing labor and employment law, and one of our attorneys was one of the first administrative law judges for the Illinois Labor Relations Board. OBKC&G is a leading law firm in the representation of management in labor and employment matters. We exclusively represent management in union organization, negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, restructuring, acquisitions, employment discrimination, and affirmative action compliance. Our experience includes advising clients regarding employment-related torts such as defamation, negligent hiring and retention, and wrongful discharge. Clients frequently seek our assistance with wage and hour compliance, employee discipline, revising and implementing employment handbooks, and developing personnel practices and employment policies.

 

Our practice includes handling matters within the jurisdiction of the Illinois Labor Relations Boards (State and Educational). We represent management in contract negotiations and administration, arbitrations, strike and picketing control, reductions in force, relocations or acquisitions, and in response to union organization attempts. Our experience with the Illinois Labor Relations Boards and our knowledge of their inner workings enhances our ability to represent clients in matters pending before the boards. We also have an excellent rapport with numerous arbitrators who hear grievance as well as interest arbitration issues.

 

Our skilled litigators have managed all aspects of employment litigation, including trial work in cases arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal and state laws regulating the workplace. Many of our attorneys have defended clients against breach of contract claims, wrongful discharge claims, and employment tort claims.

 

We advise management concerning their obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Illinois minimum wage laws, including assistance in responding to wage and hour audits. We defend our clients against complaints and in litigation brought to recover unpaid minimum wages and/or overtime.

 

When disputes arise in the workplace involving age, sex, harassment, disability, and other forms of employment discrimination, we have advised our clients in appropriately investigating the allegations, as well as representing management in subsequent proceedings before federal and state agencies and courts.

 

Our attorneys are experienced in advising clients concerning polygraph testing, information disclosure, employee screening (including application forms and tests), drug testing, and AIDS policies. We also advise clients on the hiring, compensation, promotion/demotion, termination, unemployment compensation, and retirement of employees. Our attorneys are often asked to provide training on risk management issues such as sexual harassment, violence in the workplace, effective documentation, and management of personnel issues.