About the Program: League of Chicago Theatres and Lawyers for the Creative Arts invite arts workers attend a free workshop; Know Your Rights: Reporting Abuse at Work presented by Attorney Whitney Barr and Inclusion Consultant Tania Richard. In this two-part program, we’ll cover what workers (1099, W-2, union, non-union) can do when they find themselves in unsafe situations, navigating a hostile work environment, or see a coworker facing potential abuse. Including: How and what to document, How and what to report within the organization and to whom (especially if the organization doesn’t have an HR department or harassment prevention policy), When and how to report issues to entities outside of the organization, including to law enforcement or local government agencies, When to talk with an attorney, And general best practices. After the educational session on workers’ rights, we’ll take your questions and make space for community discussion on these issues centered on how we can build safer, more equitable, and inclusive workspaces. About the Speakers: Whitney Barr is an attorney at Caffarelli & Associates Ltd., where she concentrates her practice in employment litigation with a deep commitment to advancing employee rights. Ms. Barr represents clients in a broad range of workplace matters, including discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, whistleblower claims, medical leave rights, and biometric privacy. A significant focus of Ms. Barr’s practice is advocating for individuals who have experienced workplace discrimination and harassment based on disability, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and pregnancy. Her work regularly includes litigation involving hostile work environments, unlawful retaliation, and inequities in hiring, promotion, and compensation. She is especially passionate about representing women in cases involving gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in the workplace. Early in her career, Ms. Barr played a key role in a high-profile sexual harassment case on behalf of eight young women against their employer—an experience that solidified her dedication to fighting workplace injustice and shaped her focus on employee advocacy. In addition to her individual advocacy, Ms. Barr maintains an active class and collective action practice, with a focus on claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), and the Equal Pay Act (EPA). She is dedicated to challenging systemic workplace injustices and securing meaningful results for both individuals and groups. More at https://caffarelli.com/people/whitney-barr/‘ Tania Richard is an Inclusion and Belonging Keynote Speaker, Broadway actress, award-winning author, and teacher. Her experience in Inclusion and Belonging consulting, professional development, and executive coaching includes work with Fortune 500 Companies, tech start-ups, non-profit organizations, universities, theatrical productions (including Broadway), and presidential campaigns. Tania’s podcast is Tania’s Take. Her writing on race and culture is featured on her blog “Writing My Mind” (Chicago Tribune for ten years). Tania has shared her commentary on OUT Chicago, WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, The Story, OUT Chicago, and All Things Considered on NPR. More at https://www.taniarichard.com/ Whitney Barr, Attorney, Caffarelli & Associates Ltd Tania Richard, Inclusion and Belonging Keynote Speaker, Broadway Actress, Award-Winning Author, and Teacher
