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Steven L. Brenneman
Specialization
- Extensive litigation practice before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, with emphasis in employment discrimination, wage and hour, employee benefits matters, and cases brought under wrongful termination, employee privacy, trade secrets, breach of contract, negligent hiring and retention, and employee defamation laws and decisions.
- Regular advice to clients regarding legal matters affecting the employment relationship and assisting in developing employment policies and procedures under all federal and state employment statutes and regulations including FMLA, FLSA, and anti-discrimination laws; designing policies, procedures, and training to prevent and remedy harassment and discrimination in the workplace (including diversity strategies); designing affirmative action plans and related compliance procedures; as well as procedures related to substance abuse, WARN Act plant closing/mass layoff matters, and violence in the workplace.
- Representation of employers in negotiating employment and separation agreements, as well as litigation over noncompetition agreements and related executive employment matters.
About Steve's PracticeSteven L. Brenneman is a partner and chair of the Employment Law Group at Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll, LLP, in Chicago. He has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in the full range of employment and labor law matters. Steve advises and provides preventive counseling to employers on a wide range of issues affecting the employment relationship, including EEO issues, covenants against competition, wage and hour issues, leaves of absence under FMLA and other laws, employee handbooks and personnel policies, issues arising from the use of technology in the workplace, reductions in force, affirmative action obligations, hiring and background checks, and strategies for employee discipline and termination.
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude, 1985
- Goshen College, B.A., 1982
Major Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Editor, Illinois Employment Law Letter (since 1996)
- Contributing Editor, Great Lakes Employment Law Letter
- Author, "Employer's transgender ban violates Illinois Human Rights Act," Illinois Employment Law Letter, January 2022, and HR Daily Advisor, December 23, 2021
- Author, "Worker boxed out of suit against temp agency's client," Illinois Employment Law Letter, July 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, July 15, 2021
- Author, "Lack of secrecy dooms employer's suit to stop former sales reps' use of customer lists," Illinois Employment Law Letter, May 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, April 16, 2021
- Quoted, "PRO Act's Chances in Senate Doubtful, But It Still Airs Labor's 'Wish List'," HR Daily Advisor, March 11, 2021
- Author, "7th Circuit rejects associational discrimination claim," Illinois Employment Law Letter, October 2020, and HR Daily Advisor, September 29, 2020
- Quoted, "Supreme Court Rulings Boost Employer Decisions Based on Religion," HR Daily Advisor, July 9, 2020
- Quoted, "Liability on the Minds of Employers, Lawmakers as Businesses Reopen," HR Daily Advisor, May 7, 2020
- Author, "Illinois Law Banning Salary History Questions Takes Effect in January," HR Daily Advisor, December 16, 2019
- Author, "Illinois Employers Need to Be Ready for New Marijuana Law," HR Daily Advisor, December 12, 2019
- Author, "News flash: Ads offering 'Lots of Mexicans' violate Title VII," Illinois Employment Law Letter, May 2018, and HR Daily Advisor, July 13, 2018
- Quoted, "Long-Awaited Supreme Court Decision Strikes Down Union 'Fair Share' Fees," HR Daily Advisor, June 27, 2018
- Author, "Screening out applicants with too much experience may violate ADEA," Illinois Employment Law Letter, June 2018, and HR Daily Advisor, June 6, 2018
- Quoted, "Supreme Court tackles case posing threat to public-sector unions," Human Resources News, September 29, 2017
- Author, "Paid sick leave laws for Chicago-area workers take effect July 1," Human Resources News, June 5, 2017
- Quoted, "In 'landmark' ruling, appeals court says sexual orientation discrimination is illegal," Human Resources News, April 6, 2017
- Author, "Court weighs Chicago bus driver's obesity as a disability under the ADA," Illinois Employment Law Letter, January 2017, and HR Daily Advisor, February 21, 2017
- Author, "New Illinois law bans noncompete agreements for low-wage workers," Illinois Employment Law Letter, September 2016, and Human Resources News, December 21, 2016
- Author, "Court serves up defeat to tipped workers' minimum wage claim," Illinois Employment Law Letter, September 2016, and HR.BLR.com, October 10, 2016
- Author, "Illinois supervisor's unfiltered comments put city in hot water," Illinois Employment Law Letter, July 2016, and HR.BLR.com, August 17, 2016
- Author, "New Chicago ordinance will require employers to provide paid sick leave," Illinois Employment Law Letter, July 2016, and Human Resources News, June 23, 2016
- Author, "Retaliation: 7th Circuit blows whistle on insubordinate workers," Illinois Employment Law Letter, January 2016, and HR.BLR.com, February 16, 2016
- Author, "Shoe store shoots self in the foot with out-of-step policy," Illinois Employment Law Letter, December 2015, and HR.BLR.com, January 27, 2016
- Author, "University of Illinois gets schooled in offer letter requirements," Illinois Employment Law Letter, January 2016, and HR.BLR.com, January 13, 2016
- Author, "Employer's e-mails evince animus against reservist," Illinois Employment Law Letter, December 2015, and Technology for HR Blog, January 7, 2016
- Author, "Termination: Caseworker's claim she was forced out doesn't play," Illinois Employment Law Letter, September 2015, and HR.BLR.com, October 28, 2015
- Author, "Racial discrimination or poor performance? The 7th Circuit must decide," Illinois Employment Law Letter, September 2015, and HR.BLR.com, October 21, 2015
- Author, "Employment agreements: Guaranteed employment term bores Illinois cylinder maker," Illinois Employment Law Letter, August 2015, and HR.BLR.com, September 9, 2015
- Author, "Racial discrimination: Lack of evidence for termination leads to claim," Illinois Employment Law Letter, June 2015, and HR.BLR.com, July 13, 2015
- Author, "FLSA: Illinois window-cleaning company sparkles in overtime exemption ruling," Illinois Employment Law Letter, May 2015, and HR.BLR.com, June 3, 2015
- Author, "Illinois educator’s retaliation, discrimination thesis not proven," Illinois Employment Law Letter, April 2015, and HR.BLR.com, May 13, 2015
- Author, "General contractor loves ruling that it's not employer of subcontractor's employees," Illinois Employment Law Letter, April 2015, and HR.BLR.com, May 8, 2015
- Author, "Deductions from pay: Court curbs cab drivers' wage claims," Illinois Employment Law Letter, March 2015, and HR.BLR.com, April 13, 2015
- Author, "Acceptable-use policy may render employer liable for ignoring e-mail threats," Illinois Employment Law Letter, February 2015, and Technology for HR blog, March 16, 2015
- Author, "7th Circuit says FedEx's workers' comp policy absolutely improper," Illinois Employment Law Letter, February 2015, and HR.BLR.com, March 11, 2015
- Author, "Termination: Illinois Supreme Court tips scale for employers," Illinois Employment Law Letter, January 2015, and HR.BLR.com, February 3, 2015
- Author, "Ruling on Illinois beautician's disability claim makes employer's hair stand on end," Illinois Employment Law Letter, December 2014, and HR.BLR.com, January 21, 2015
- Author, "New laws affecting Illinois employers take effect January 1," Illinois Employment Law Letter, September 2013, and Human Resources News, December 12, 2014
- Author, "Causation can exist with three-year gap," Illinois Employment Law Letter, November 2014, and HR.BLR.com, November 24, 2014
- Author, "Illinois governor signs law prohibiting criminal history inquiries on job applications," Illinois Employment Law Letter, August 2014, and Human Resources News, July 22, 2014
- Frequent speaker at labor and employment law seminars
Professional RecognitionMember of Leading Lawyers Network (Employment Law and Labor Law)
Admitted to PracticeState of Illinois; U.S. Courts of Appeals, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits; U.S. District Courts, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Eastern District of Wisconsin, District of Colorado, and Eastern District of Michigan
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