As of January 1, 2025, more than 300 new laws have taken effect in Illinois, impacting various aspects of daily life, business regulations, and consumer protections. From digital driver's licenses to salary transparency, these changes may affect individuals, businesses, and professionals across the state. Below is a summary of some of the most notable [...]
Navigating the ever-changing landscape of employment and business law is a constant challenge for business owners. Staying compliant isn't just about avoiding legal pitfalls; it's about fostering a fair and productive work environment that attracts and retains top talent. Illinois has seen significant legislative activity in this area, with several new laws taking effect [...]
Understanding the U.S. DOL's New Rule on Independent Contractor Classification The landscape of worker classification in the United States has seen significant shifts over the years, with legal interpretations and regulations evolving to adapt to changing economic realities. One of the pivotal areas in this arena is the classification of workers as either independent [...]
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act has gone into effect this year. If you are an employer, this new law may affect your workforce and policies around paid leave. Starting January 1, 2024, Illinois has become a trailblazer by implementing the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, signed into law by Governor JB [...]
Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, recently signed the Employee Background Fairness Act into law, bringing significant changes to the hiring practices of employers in the state under the Illinois Human Rights Act. This law aims to ensure fairness in the employment process by prohibiting employers from disqualifying job applicants based solely on their conviction records, [...]
Business owners often want their employment contracts to contain the most restrictive covenants. Yet, overzealous restrictive covenants may backfire if deemed overly restrictive, unreasonable, and going further than necessary to protect the “legitimate business interests,” which is an elusive concept. A restrictive covenant is a type of contractual arrangement. It is a clause in an [...]
Chicago requires wage increase starting annually. On December 2nd, 2014, the city of Chicago passed an ordinance to raise the minimum wage to $13 per hour. Under this ordinance, the minimum wage will be increased annually to the $13 limit by July 1, 2019. The incremental raises are scheduled for July 1 of each [...]
Timing of Employers’ Criminal Inquiries and Background Checks An Illinois legislature has recently adopted the Job Opportunities For Qualified Applicants Act (the “Job Opportunities Act”). Effective January 1, 2015, the Job Opportunities Act prohibits certain employers from inquiring into or considering a job applicant’s criminal history or background prior to considering such applicant’s qualifications. The [...]
