Making Work Better: Employment Law & Workplace Challenges

Ep. 45 - Illinois' New Employment Laws of 2026

From increased workplace transparency to paid nursing breaks to background check requirements, many new laws and updates to existing legal framework are set to go into effect in Illinois at the start of 2026. As employment attorneys, Katie Rinkus and Hannah Savaso are here to help you stay on top of the biggest changes. In this episode, we'll walk you through what's changing and what both employees and businesses should be aware of heading into the new year.    Tune in to hear Katie and Hannah discuss:    What Illinois now considers as "unlawful employment practices"  Which workplace leaves must now be paid  How state equal pay requirements are becoming more streamlined  Upcoming restrictions surrounding the use of AI during the hiring process  How Illinois is being proactive in preserving workers' safety protections that may be at risk    Whether you're a business owner or an employee, keeping up to date with the changing workplace is essential. Give this episode a listen to learn what these changes might mean for you!    Stay Connected and Learn More   Read our blog post on Illinois' New Laws in 2026    Read Katie's blog post on changes to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act    Katie Rinkus    Hannah Savaso    The Prinz Law Firm 

Ep. 44 – You vs. You: The Art of Negotiating Your New Year's Resolutions

New Year's resolutions are more than just a fun thing for us to think about every January. In fact, they're a form of internal negotiation that has the potential to impact our lives and the lives of the people around us – and Kristen Prinz and Amit Bindra are here to help you make the most of the new year. Whether we want to make a career change, get more exercise, or achieve some other goal in 2026, this episode will give you the tools you need to determine what's most important, why it matters to you, and how to go about achieving it. Tune in to hear Kristen and Amit discuss: What Kristen considers the key components of any internal negotiation Questions to ask yourself when setting goals for the future The most productive research techniques for getting what you want out of a negotiation, whether it's internal or external How your network can help you brainstorm new goals How to overcome talking yourself out of something you want to achieve Why Amit finds quarterly milestones more manageable than yearly goals Stay Connected and Learn More Kristen's blog post, "Negotiate with Yourself to Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions" Kristen Prinz Amit Bindra The Prinz Law Firm

Ep. 43 – To Give or Not to Give? A Guide to Being Merry, Not Messy

The holiday season is fast approaching, and workplaces can help to keep spirits high by staying clear of potential issues surrounding gift-giving in the office. What may seem like a simple gesture between coworkers can also lead to a variety of legal pitfalls, from discrimination and harassment claims to tax implications. Business counselors Chad Ayers and Christina Hynes Mesco dive into those issues by sharing stories of their own holiday experiences at work. In this episode, we'll share suggestions for success when giving gifts to colleagues. Chad and Christina will discuss: The potential implications of a manager giving gifts to subordinates Whether the typical "Christmas bonus" or high-value gifts should be considered as wages How the public and private sectors differ in their approaches to accepting gifts What kinds of gifts may have tax implications How workplaces generally treat holiday celebrations outside of gift-giving Inclusive alternatives to a gift exchange To make the most of this time of year, streamline your organization's gift-giving and holiday celebrations. Tune in to hear our recommendations for how employers can show they care while also avoiding liability. Stay Connected and Learn More Read Chad's blog post on gift-giving Listen to a related episode: Ep. 13 – "How Can You Throw a Safe and Appropriate Holiday Party?" Chad Ayers Christina Hynes Mesco The Prinz Law Firm

Ep. 42 – What It Really Takes to Have a Healthy Workplace Culture, with Michelle Aronson

Many business leaders think that a healthy workplace culture is important, but they don't always know what it takes to have one. Some companies may simply restate their values at every annual meeting and call it a day. Others may not know what their culture looks like at all. Improving the health of your workplace isn't a one-and-done thing—for as long as your company remains open, learning what is and isn't working must be an ongoing process. Business counselor Kristen Prinz is joined by Michelle Aronson, founder of Culture + Strategy Lab and host of the True Stories at Work podcast, to dive into what it really takes to bring your workplace culture to life. By sharing real scenarios that business clients have navigated, our hosts provide insight into the link between the strength of a company's culture and its response when something goes wrong. Michelle and Kristen explore: · Whether culture can be measured accurately with quantitative metrics · The responsibilities that both leadership and employees have in creating company culture · The root causes of most culture issues · The link between employee engagement and customer engagement · How our personal biases cloud our ability to assess claims of workplace harassment · What companies with the strongest cultures are doing to invest in their health If you're aware of problems that exist in your work environment and aren't sure how to respond—or if you want to learn how to identify problems before they arise—this episode will be well worth the listen. About Michelle Aronson Michelle Aronson is a recovering HR executive, executive coach, and business school professor turned founder of Culture + Strategy Lab. She helps growing companies turn culture into a competitive advantage—using real strategy, not fluff. Michelle once managed both employee and customer experience (a.k.a. half of the CEO's bonus) and learned firsthand how to uncover the invisible forces shaping culture and driving results. Today, she designs custom, measurable strategies that align leadership, culture, and business outcomes. She also hosts True Stories at Work—a podcast sharing the best leadership stories you've never heard, from hilarious to heartbreaking, plus a few workplace confessions. Stay Connected and Learn More Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn Check out Culture + Strategy Lab Kristen Prinz Culture audits at The Prinz Law Firm

Ep. 41 - Managing Misconduct the Right Way

It's an unfortunate statistic, but most people have seen or experienced some form of misconduct at work at least once in their careers. As employment attorneys and workplace investigators, Christina Hynes Mesco and Laura Feldman have seen the full gamut of these types of matters and know that even the most cautionary tales can teach us valuable lessons about how to approach these difficult, and often highly emotional, cases.   Using a recent and very public corporate scandal, Christina and Laura explore how a prominent corporation properly responded to misconduct claims and use that example as a springboard for providing their best practices for organizations faced with similar complaints.  In this episode, you will learn:  The key role that senior leadership and even boards of directors play in addressing misconduct in the workplace and the kinds of training that both should receive  How to ensure that senior leadership has a pulse on what's going on in an organization  How to spot retaliation and best prevent it  When employment insurance can impact an organization's response to misconduct claims  Whether a complaint needs to be formally filed to treat harassment claims seriously  Practical considerations when conducting an internal versus an external investigation  Why culture audits are recommended for preventing and even responding to harassment claims    This episode will be a valuable guide for senior leaders, HR professionals, and managers navigating harassment claims, as well as attorneys who may be advising individuals in bringing these claims forward. Tune in to learn which practices will help you identify and prevent harassment within your team.    Stay Connected and Learn More:  Read Christina and Laura's blog on managing misconduct  Christina Hynes Mesco  Laura Feldman  The Prinz Law Firm