The Workplace Report with Ancel Glink

In Nawara v. Cook County (7th Cir. 2025), the Seventh Circuit made a significant ruling that greatly expands ADA liability for employers. In this case, a Cook County correctional officer (Nawara) was subjected to a fitness-for-duty examination following a series of altercations with supervisors before being permitted to return to work. Despite Nawara agreeing to submit to the exam and never claiming to have an actual or perceived disability, the court still found that the medical examination violated the ADA's prohibition against unlawful medical inquiries.   The Seventh Circuit's decision holds that non-disabled employees can recover back pay and other monetary damages when subjected to unlawful medical examinations under the ADA. This ruling directly contradicts the traditional understanding that ADA monetary remedies were primarily available only to employees who could establish actual or perceived disabilities. The court emphasized that the ADA's medical inquiry prov...

Navigating Immigration Compliance Amidst Renewed Federal Enforcement Since January, the current administration has enacted a series of executive orders aimed intensifying immigration enforcement. These directives have significant implications for municipal employers, particularly where local policies may intersect with federal mandates.​ In consideration of recent executive orders combined with the recent amendments to Illinois' Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, it's crucial to understand current obligations for HR staff and providing support to employees that may have heightened concerns for their family. Executive Order 14159, titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," expands expedited removal procedures and seeks to penalize non-compliant jurisdictions by withholding federal funding. Additionally, the administration has targeted sanctuary cities, directing the publication of lists identifying non-cooperative localities and threatening legal...

The Municipal Minute recently posted the following article , which we have reprinted here:  A police officer filed an application for line-of-duty disability benefits after being injured during mandatory “wellness and resiliency” training, which involved classroom instruction and stretching, yoga, and other physical movements. During the stretches, the officer experienced back pain and was later diagnosed with various spinal conditions, undergoing two unsuccessful surgeries. Despite receiving treatment, the officer was unable to return to work with the police department. The Retirement Board of the Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of the City of Chicago (Pension Board) found that the officer was entitled to ordinary disability benefits, but denied her duty disability benefits because her injury did not result from an “act of police duty inherently involving special risk,” as required by the Illinois Pension Code. Ordinary disability benefits are 50% of the officer’s salary, as ...

In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a central focus in both the public and private sectors. However, a wave of legal developments is reshaping how employers implement and defend these programs. Recent court decisions and executive actions are introducing new risks and compliance challenges, especially concerning claims of reverse discrimination and constitutional limitations. A major shift came with the Supreme Court’s June 2025 decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services , which eliminated the “background circumstances” requirement in Title VII cases brought by majority-group employees. Previously, courts often required white or male plaintiffs to show additional proof of bias in discrimination claims. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, writing for a unanimous Court, clarified that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies equally to all individuals, regardless of race or gender. This decision removes a legal hurdle for reverse-discriminati...