BLOGS

2021 is starting to feel like March of 2020 all over again for employers.  Each day seems to bring new information, guidance and rules that need to be reviewed and incorporated into the workplace.   We highlight some of those items here:New OSHA Guidance on Addressing COVID-19 In the WorkplaceThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the U.S. Department of Labor, recently issued new guidance titled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace”.  In the...

Earlier this year, Governor Pritzker signed into law House Bill 2455, now Public Act 101-0633, which amended the Workers’ Occupation Disease Act (820 ILCS 310) among other items.History of House Bill 2455/ Public Act 101-0633Prior to House Bill 2455 being signed, COVID-19 related workers’ compensation coverage was hotly debated by pro-employee and pro-employer advocates across Illinois and the United States.In the spring of 2020, the Illinois Workers Compensation Committee (ILWCC) adopted an emergency rule which included langaug...

Confused? You are not alone. News articles vary between saying the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expired and discussing how it was extended.  What does all of this mean?  Here’s what employers need to know:What is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)?The FFCRA contains a number of new laws and small amendments to existing law, but for the purposes of this article we are focusing on three sections: Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Expanded FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and Tax Credits for Paid Sick and Pa...

The year 2020 began with over 250 new state laws – while many considered the legalization of recreational marijuana would be the largest impact on employers, it was The Workplace Transparency Act – which resulted in employers needing to significantly overhaul their employee handbooks, employment agreements and offer letters, confidentiality agreements, severance agreements and many other documents – that initially caused the biggest impact.And then came COVID-19 and everything changed.  Suddenly all the focus was on the Families Fir...

2020… well that was something wasn’t it?  It is amazing how much the world has changed over the past few months.  The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses across the globe into a balancing act – protecting the health and safety of their employees while simultaneously struggling to keep their own operations a float.  Family life has changed with entire households battling for Wi-Fi bandwidth and office space inside the home.  Suddenly “pivoting” is a dirty word and “zoom fatigue” is the latest challenge.  It has been an all...