Jeff Nowak
Shareholder | Co-Chair, Leaves of Absence and Disability Accommodation Practice Group
Professional & Community Affiliations
President
La Grange Little League
Past Village Trustee
Village of LaGrange, Illinois
Past Member, Board of Directors
Marist High School
Recognition
Named, The Best Lawyers in America®
2016-2025
Named, Lawyer of the Year
Chicago
The Best Lawyers in America©
2024
Ranked, Labor & Employment
Chambers USA
2017-2024
Fellow
College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
Class of 2023
Recipient, DMEC Partnership Award
Disability Management Employer Coalition
August 2014
News, Analysis & Press
Back to Basics: What is intermittent FMLA leave, and why is it so hard to manage?
HR Dive
November 13, 2024
Littler Ranked in 2024 Chambers USA Guide
June 6, 2024
Chicago Finalizes Interpretive Rules in Advance of July 1, 2024, Effective Date of New Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Insight
May 3, 2024
Not Too Little But Maybe Too Late? Illinois Finalizes Regulations Interpreting Paid Leave For All Workers Act Four Months After Law Takes Effect
Insight
May 3, 2024
How can employers address the effects of employees’ mental health issues in the workplace?
2 the Point Video
February 27, 2024
The U.S. has no federal bereavement leave. What to know about options at work when someone you love dies
CNBC
January 26, 2024
Effective December 31, 2023, Cook County, Illinois Paid Leave Requirements Will Largely Mirror State Law
Insight
December 15, 2023
Reverse Bullying: When Managers Feel Intimidated by Their Subordinates
SHRM Online
December 11, 2023
Paid Leave Changes Whip Through the Windy City: Chicago Enacts New Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance for 2024
Insight
November 14, 2023
Proposed Regulations for the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act Offer Employers a Mixed Bag for Compliance
Insight
November 7, 2023
EEOC Releases Expansive Proposed Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Insight
August 9, 2023
Littler Recognized in 2023 Chambers USA Guide
June 6, 2023
Interpreting the FMLA, one case at a time
February 27, 2023
FMLA: The 30-year legacy of a celebrated — and complicated — employment law
HR Dive
February 3, 2023
Illinois Set to Become Third State to Mandate Paid Leave for Any Reason
SHRM Online
January 18, 2023
New Year, New Laws: Illinois Legislative Amendments Employers Won’t Want to Miss in 2023
Insight
December 28, 2022
Littler Ranked in Chambers USA Guide 2022
June 1, 2022
House Passes Build Back Better Act with Paid-Leave and ACA ‘Firewall’ Provisions
SHRM Online
November 19, 2021
OSHA's ETS Effects Paid Leave for COVID-19 Vaccines or Tests (OSHA ETS)
SHRM Online
November 5, 2021
Under the ETS, What Paid Leave Must an Employer Provide an Employee to Obtain a COVID-19 Vaccine or Test?
FMLA Insights
November 5, 2021
Will Federal Paid Leave Finally Become Law? We’ll Likely Learn This Week, but Here’s Where We Stand as of Today
LexBlog
October 26, 2021
Federal Tax Credits Now Available When Certain Employees Use Emergency Paid Leave to Help Others Obtain or Recover from COVID-19 Vaccine
ASAP
August 3, 2021
Viewpoint: Which Federal and State Leave Laws Apply to Your Remote Employees?
SHRM Online
July 14, 2021
A Trifecta of Free Webinars in July: Brush Up on FMLA Misuse, PFML Developments, and ADA/Return to Work Issues
LexBlog
July 1, 2021
Littler Ranked in Chambers USA Guide 2021
May 27, 2021
A leave admin witnessed a worker's fall but failed to give FMLA notices, 11th Cir. Rules
HR Dive
April 21, 2021
Who Wants an FFCRA Leave Update? U.S. House Version of FFCRA Provides Some Clarity for Employers
LexBlog
March 3, 2021
Congress Set to Approve Additional COVID-19 Relief for Individuals, Small Businesses
ASAP
December 21, 2020
Congress Declines to Extend FFCRA Leave, Offers Tax Credits to Those Voluntarily Providing Paid Leave
FMLA Insights
December 21, 2020
Jury must determine whether assistant's firing covered up leave discrimination
HR Dive
December 16, 2020
How positive COVID-19 tests, underlying conditions intersect with the FMLA
HR Dive
December 14, 2020
Dealing with Employees in Crisis: Options and Resources for Today’s Turbulent Times
SHRM Online
November 23, 2020
Can Employers Require that Employees Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine Before Returning to Work?
LexBlog
November 20, 2020
What is One Leave-Related Question I Would Ask Each of the Presidential Candidates?
LexBlog
September 28, 2020
DOL doubles down on COVID-19 paid-leave regulations after judge blocked earlier rules
Reuters Legal
September 14, 2020
DOL Revises FFCRA Regulations to Clarify Paid Leave Rules in Wake of New York Federal Court’s Decision
Insight
September 13, 2020
Dear Littler: How Do We Manage Time Off, Scheduling & Accommodation Requests from Employees with Children Whose Education is Affected by COVID-19?
Dear Littler
August 26, 2020
Why the ‘Honest Belief’ Defense in FMLA Cases Is Actually Working
Risk and Insurance
August 11, 2020
NY Federal Court Strikes Down Key Provisions of DOL Rule Regarding FFCRA Paid Sick and Expanded FMLA Leave
Insight
August 4, 2020
DOL: Manufacturer failed to post FFCRA notice, denied leave for school closure
HR Dive
July 30, 2020
FMLA FAQ: If an Employer Places an Employee on Leave When He Can’t Wear a Face Covering, Is the Absence Covered by the FMLA?
LexBlog
July 30, 2020
DOL Issues Regulations Implementing the New Emergency Paid Sick and Paid FMLA Law
LexBlog
April 3, 2020
DOL Releases Regulations Implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Insight
April 2, 2020
DOL Issues Third Batch of Families First Coronavirus Response Act Q&As and Revises Prior Guidance
ASAP
March 29, 2020
DOL Publishes Third Round of FAQs on Paid Leave Law: Agency Covers Total Leave Entitlement, Return to Work, Help for Small Employers, Excludes Health Care Providers
LexBlog
March 29, 2020
Second Set of DOL FAQs Provide More Clarity on Upcoming Federal Paid Sick and Family Leave Obligations
ASAP
March 27, 2020
DOL Publishes Initial Guidance on How to Implement Emergency Paid Sick and Paid FMLA Leave
LexBlog
March 25, 2020
U.S. House Amends Emergency FMLA and Paid Sick Leave Legislation as Part of COVID-19 Response
LexBlog
March 17, 2020
Want to Stay on the Cutting Edge of the FMLA and ADA? Here Are My Top Three Resources for Employers
LexBlog
March 2, 2020
Latest Set of DOL Opinion Letters Clarify FLSA Salary Basis and Overtime Calculations, FMLA Eligibility Determinations for Public Agencies
Insight
January 8, 2020
Worker alleges Taco Bell fired him for refusing to lie his way out of jury duty
HR Dive
October 4, 2019
Can a Worker Use FMLA Leave to Care for Kids While Her Husband Is in Rehab?
SHRM Online
October 1, 2019
Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Edition Honors More Than 200 Littler Lawyers; 14 Named Lawyer of the Year
August 15, 2019
Viewpoint: Employees Busted Taking FMLA Leave for a Caribbean 'Booze' Cruise
SHRM Online
July 23, 2019
Viewpoint: Court Puts Kibosh on Policy Requiring Two Calls to Request FMLA Leave
SHRM Online
July 11, 2019
Littler Ranked in 2019 Chambers USA Guide
April 25, 2019
Keys to FMLA, ADA Compliance for Mental Health Are Communication, Flexibility
SHRM Online
March 15, 2019
Littler Expands Chicago Office with Four New Shareholders
January 24, 2019
Speaking Engagements
Remote Control? Managing Remote Work Requests in a Changed Workforce
December 11, 2024
Top 10 FMLA Compliance Issues You Should Be Thinking About Right Now
Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ
May 9, 2024
ADA Master Class
March 5, 2024
Pregnancy Accommodations: Navigating Difficult, Yet Common Scenarios to Keep Employers Compliant
December 13, 2023
From the "Judge's" Bench: A Report Card on 2022-2023 FMLA/ADA Developments
Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ
May 11, 2023
Employee Fitness for Duty Exams: Navigating the FMLA and ADA Traps to Keep Employers Compliant
December 14, 2022
Mastering the FMLA: Gaining Critical Knowledge and Skills to Administer FMLA Leave
March 8, 2022
Managing Remote Work Requests During (and After) the Pandemic
December 8, 2021
Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic - Second Session
June 22, 2021
Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic
March 16, 2021
Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic
December 9, 2020
Practical Issues for Employers in Navigating the New Federal Emergency Paid FMLA and Sick Leave Mandates
March 24, 2020
Stop the Madness! Effective Ways to Protect Your Organization Against FMLA Abuse
December 11, 2019
Happy Paper Trails: Creating Effective FMLA and ADA Policies, Templates and Practices that Won’t Go Off the (Legal) Rails
Florida Regional Employer Conference, Miami, FL
October 24, 2019
Complex FMLA Issues
NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL
April 2019
Managing Sick Leave Laws
ABA Annual Labor & Employment Conference, San Francisco, CA
November 2018
I Thought We Were Supposed to be Flexible? ADA Cases Post-Severson
2018 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference, Austin, TX
August 2018
Six Ways Your Managers Are Causing FMLA & ADA Leave Lawsuits, and How to Train Them to Stop
SHRM Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
June 2018
FMLA and ADA Case Law Update
2018 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
May 2018
FMLA Update
NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL
April 2018
Practical Parental Leave Considerations in the Trump Era
2017 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
August 2017
Analysis of EEOC’s Technical Document on Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation
Webinar conducted by EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum
June 2016
Complex FMLA Issues
NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL
April 23, 2016
Employment Law Update
NELI’s Employment Law Conference, Chicago, IL
May 20, 2015
Pregnancy Accommodation: Overview and Analysis of EEOC’s Guidance
2015 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Washington, D.C.
April 20-23, 2015
Why Do Employees Sue Their Employers in FMLA Lawsuits?
2016 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
April 15-17, 2015
Education
- J.D., Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 1999cum laude
- B.A., Indiana University, 1995
Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana