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Tales From Around the Water Cooler
Kristen Prinz
Tales from Around the Water Cooler, where you will hear tales of horror employee/employer stories and the lessons learned. We talk to high profile employers and employees and discuss how they handle their employment nightmares and successes! Your host, Kristen Prinz, of "The Prinz Law Firm" works on a daily basis with executives, professionals, and small businesses to turn adverse events into opportunities.
- 27 minutes 27 secondsEp. 21 – Did the FTC Just Ban Non-Competes? (Non-Competes IV)
In a sweeping action, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published its final rule on non-competes, effectively banning them completely. Both individuals and businesses are wondering what this means for them currently and in the future. Employment attorneys and business counselors Amit Bindra and Rebecca Chmielewski examine what is likely to happen next and what both employees and employers need to know.
Stay Connected & Learn More:
Read Amit’s post on the FTC ban
1 May 2024, 9:26 pm - 22 minutes 53 secondsEp. 20 – What Is a PLLC…and Does My Business Need to Be One?
Some states require that certain business entities register as a PLLC (or professional limited liability company) and not simply as an LLC (limited liability company). Business and employment attorneys Katie Rinkus and Rebecca Chmielewski discuss the distinction between LLCs and PLLCs and the requirements for forming a PLLC under Illinois law. They specifically address both how to convert an existing LLC into a PLLC and how to establish a company as a PLLC from the beginning. They also explain the nuts and bolts of filing the necessary documents and the potential penalties that can be levied for not being registered correctly. Tune in to learn all about PLLCs and whether your business needs to be registered as one.
Stay Connected & Learn More:
Read Katie’s blog post on PLLCs
19 April 2024, 7:18 pm - 36 minutes 48 secondsEp. 19 – 10 Essentials When Hiring Your First Employee
Employment attorneys and business counselors Katie Rinkus and Poonam Lakhani discuss the top 10 essential things to know or do when hiring your first employee. From how to conduct a background check to when to use a confidentiality agreement or register with state agencies, Katie and Poonam cover the gamut of concerns that business owners encounter when they are finally ready to become employers.
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23 March 2024, 1:46 am - 38 minutes 41 secondsEp. 18 – An Introduction to Culture Audits (Investigations III)
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.
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19 February 2024, 8:05 pm - 35 minutes 37 secondsEp. 17 – Disrupting Workplace Discrimination
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:
Chiquita Hall-Jackson’s personal website
We Gon’ Be Alright: A Black Executive's Guide to Navigating Workplace Dynamics
Chiquita Hall-Jackson on LinkedIn
7 February 2024, 5:27 pm - 17 minutes 41 secondsEp. 16 – Non-Compete Bans (Non-Competes III)
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:
Read Amit’s blog post on Minnesota’s non-compete ban
8 January 2024, 8:49 pm - 17 minutes 22 secondsEp. 15 – New Illinois Employment Laws of 2024
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:
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
28 December 2023, 9:07 pm - 35 minutes 44 secondsEp. 14 – Workplace Leave Policies
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:
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
14 December 2023, 3:38 pm - 35 minutes 29 secondsEp. 13 – How Can You Throw a Safe and Appropriate Holiday Party?
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:
Read Laura’s blog post, “How to Steer Clear of Trouble at Your Company Holiday Party”
27 November 2023, 4:44 pm - 20 minutes 37 secondsEp. 12 – The Corporate Transparency Act and Your Business
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.
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8 November 2023, 5:32 pm - 36 minutes 32 secondsEp. 11 – Mental Health Benefits in the Workplace
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.
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25 October 2023, 5:11 pm - More Episodes? Get the App
About Tales From Around the Water Cooler
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