Edward Young
Edward “Eddie” C. Young is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Firm’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation and the Non-Compete & Trade Secrets Groups.
Eddie’s practice focuses on defending companies in all aspects of employment litigation, including claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, breach of restrictive covenants (e.g., noncompetition and nonsolicitation), and whistleblower retaliation. He has handled such cases before state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the American Arbitration Association and the Department of Labor.
Subscribe to all posts by Edward Young
On May 5, 2020, the Seventh Circuit held that allegations that a defendant violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) by collecting a biometric information without first obtaining informed consent constituted an “injury in fact” sufficient to confer Article III standing. Bryant v. Compass Group USA, Inc., No. 20-1443. Prior to this ruling, a … Continue Reading
On April 28, 2020, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (the “IDHR”) published its model sexual harassment prevention training program, a copy of which is available here. As we have previously noted, effective January 1, 2020, the Illinois Human Rights Act requires Illinois employers to train employees on sexual harassment prevention by December 31, 2020, … Continue Reading
On April 22, 2020, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, with the backing of several Aldermen, introduced the COVID-19 Anti-Retaliation Ordinance (the “Ordinance”), which, if enacted, would prohibit Chicago employers from retaliating against employees for obeying a public health order requiring an employee to remain at home as a consequence of COVID-19. This reflects a growing trend … Continue Reading
On April 3, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-36, which, effectively immediately, prohibits Michigan employers from discharging, disciplining or otherwise retaliating against an employee who misses work for certain specified periods of time because he or she: (i) has tested positive for COVID-19; and/or (ii) is in “close contact” with either an … Continue Reading
On October 4, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed rulings by the District Court for the Northern District of California to decertify a rest break subclass and to deny class certification of meal break and off-the-clock subclasses in a long-running case brought by AutoZone employees. In re: AutoZone, Inc., Wage and Hour Employment … Continue Reading
On August 9, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed into law Public Act 101-0221 (the “Act”), which enhances protections against workplace sexual harassment and discrimination. The Act creates new laws and amends several existing ones, including the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”), as summarized below: NEW LAWS The Workplace Transparency Act (“WTA”). The Workplace Transparency Act will … Continue Reading
On August 9, 2019, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed the Workplace Transparency Act (the “Act”) into law. The Act will apply to all contracts, agreements, clauses, or waivers entered into, modified, or extended on or after January 1, 2020. Here are the key features with respect to arbitration agreements, employment agreements and separation agreements that Illinois … Continue Reading
On July 31, 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law House Bill 834 (the “Bill”), which amends the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 (“IEPA”) to prohibit employers from inquiring into a job applicant’s salary history. The law becomes effective on September 29, 2019. Prohibition on Salary History Inquiries Illinois’s new ban on salary … Continue Reading
Illinois will soon become the eleventh state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. On June 25, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed into effect House Bill 1438—the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“CRTA”). The CRTA, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2020, leaves some open questions for employers, but there are a few … Continue Reading
On May 8, 2019, the Seventh Circuit reaffirmed its test for determining employee status under federal anti-discrimination laws, holding that a physician lacked standing to bring Title VII claims against the hospital at which she maintained practice privileges because she was not an employee. Levitin v. Northwest Community Hospital, No. 16-cv-3774. Background Plaintiff owned and … Continue Reading
On January 23, 2019, the Seventh Circuit held that the ADEA’s prohibition of disparate impact discrimination do not extend to job applicants. Kleber v. CareFusion Corp., No. 17-cv-1206. In Kleber, a 58-year-old attorney unsuccessfully applied for a General Counsel position within the Company’s law department. The job posting required applicants to have fewer than seven … Continue Reading
On January 25, 2019, in a closely watched case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a plaintiff need not allege or demonstrate actual harm to have standing to pursue a claim under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). Rosenbach v. Six Flags Ent. Corp., No. 123186.[1] The Court concluded that technical non-compliance with BIPA … Continue Reading
As 2018 draws to a close, state and local lawmakers in Illinois have been passing legislation that will further regulate a variety of employers’ practices. Here is a look at what Illinois employers can expect in 2019. New Laws Effective January 1, 2019 Employee Reimbursement for Business Expenses – An amendment to the Illinois Wage … Continue Reading
On November 20, 2018, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral argument on whether a company’s technical violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) is sufficient to confer standing or whether a plaintiff must allege actual harm resulted from the violation. Rosenbach v. Six Flags Entertainment Corp. et al., No. 123186. The Court’s forthcoming … Continue Reading
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California recently dismissed a putative class action alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), finding that the named plaintiff lacked standing to pursue her claims. Saltzbreg v. Home Depot, U.S.A., Inc., No. 17-cv-05798 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2017). The Complaint The plaintiff filed a … Continue Reading
On October 11, 2017, the Chicago City Council passed the Hotel Workers Sexual Harassment Ordinance (the “Ordinance”), which requires Chicago hotels to develop anti-sexual harassment policies and provide employees who work alone in hotel rooms with panic buttons. Employers who fail to comply with these requirements or retaliate against employees for invoking the Ordinance’s protections … Continue Reading
On June 20, 2017, the Seventh Circuit ruled that a defendant cannot moot the individual claims of a putative class representative by depositing an unaccepted settlement offer with the court covering all relief purportedly owed to that representative. Fulton Dental, LLC, v. Bisco, Inc., No. 16-cv-3574 (7th Cir.). Plaintiff brought a putative class action lawsuit … Continue Reading
Poised to join the increasing number of cities that require paid sick leave, the Working Families Task Force (commissioned by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel) recently recommended that employees in Chicago be allowed to earn at least 5 paid sick days each year. The task force is comprised of 27 members, including business, government and worker … Continue Reading
Seventh Circuit Finds Article III Standing for an Illinois BIPA Claim
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Class/Collective Action
Illinois Publishes Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Program
By Caralyn M. Olie, Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Coronavirus, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Chicago City Council Introduces COVID-19 Anti-Retaliation Ordinance, Reflecting Growing Trend
By Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Coronavirus
Michigan Issues Executive Order Implementing COVID-19 Job Leave Protections
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Coronavirus
Ninth Circuit Affirms Denial of Class Certification for Wage and Hour Claims on Predominance Grounds
By Edward Young and Mark W. Batten on Posted in Meal breaks
Substantial Changes Ahead for Illinois Employers in 2020 Relating to Sexual Harassment Training, Mandatory Arbitration Agreements, and More
By Caralyn M. Olie, Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Litigation and Arbitration, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Illinois Enacts Workplace Transparency Act
By Caralyn M. Olie, Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Illinois Bans Salary History Inquiries
By Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana: Impact on Employers
By Caralyn M. Olie, Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
Seventh Circuit Reaffirms Test for Employee Status
By Caralyn M. Olie, Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Independent Contractor, Litigation and Arbitration
Seventh Circuit Limits ADEA Protections for Job Applicants
By Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Ill. Supreme Court: BIPA Plaintiffs Are Not Required to Show Actual Harm To Have Standing
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
2019 Brings Employment Law Changes for Illinois Employers
By Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Uncategorized, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Illinois Supreme Court To Decide Scope of BIPA
By Edward Young, H. Ren Morris and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Workplace Policies and Procedures
District Court Dismisses Putative FCRA Class Action For Lack Of Standing
By Edward Young, Michelle Gyves and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
Chicago Passes Ordinance Requiring Hotels to Provide “Panic Buttons” To Certain Employees
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Seventh Circuit Limits Ability to Moot Claims of Class Representative in the Wake of Campbell-Ewald
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Class/Collective Action
Chicago Task Force Proposes 5 Days Of Paid Sick Leave For Employees
By Edward Young and Steven J. Pearlman on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
