On January 1, 2017 a number of new laws went into effect in Illinois. Whether you are an employer or an employee, here are some employment laws you should know: Social Media Password Protections House Bill 4999 makes it illegal for an employer, or potential employer, to ask you to sign into your social media account […]
What You Need To Know About The Illinois Sick Pay Leave Act
On January 1, 2017, a new sick pay law will come into effect for employees in the state of Illinois. While it is called the Illinois Sick Pay Leave Act, it does not actually require employers to provide sick leave (starting in July, most Chicago employers must provide sick leave as well as Cook County Employers). The […]
The New Overtime Law: How It Will Affect You
Effective December 1, 2016, the Department of Labor is enacting a new overtime law in which the Fair Labor Standards Act is being changed, allowing the threshold annual income below which overtime pay is required (assuming all other requirements for overtime pay are satisfied) to rise to $47,500, compared to $23,660, which was the amount […]
10 Ways a Small Business Can Control Unemployment Insurance
As we outlined in a previous blog post Employer Basics: Unemployment Insurance in Illinois, an established employer must pay a percentage of each employee’s wages, up to an annual base of $12,690, into the State’s Unemployment Fund and that percentage can range from 0.55% to 7.75%. This difference can be significant, a multiple of more than 14 times, […]
Sexual Harassment Claims and McDonald’s
On Wednesday, October 15th, fifteen employees from the world’s largest burger chain, McDonald’s, filed charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of the victims by the Fight for $15 movement, alleging they were all victims of sexual harassment while on the job, in as many as 8 states, including Illinois. From being verbally […]
Chicago Wage Ordinance – Employees May Recover 3x their Unpaid Wages
The Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance was adopted at the end of 2014 to much fan fare because it raises the minimum wage requirements for all employees within the City of Chicago. The current rate schedule for minimum wage in Chicago is as follows: Effective Date Non-Tipped Employees Tipped Employees July 1, 2015 $10.00 $4.95 July 1, 2016 […]
Are You A Tipped Employee? Understanding The FLSA And Tipping Laws
Are you a tipped employee and do not understand the laws for tipped employees? You are not alone. There are tipping laws that are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), protecting tipped employees who regularly receive more than $30 in tips on a monthly basis. Maduff & Maduff, LLC wants to help you to better understand […]
Should You Consult With An Employment Attorney?
Making the decision to consult with an employment attorney may not be an easy one to make. Many do not understand when their employment law concerns should be taken to the next level. The employment attorneys at Maduff & Maduff want to help you understand when your employment law violations need to be addressed by an employment attorney. Wrongful termination, […]
Your FMLA Rights: How An Employment Attorney Can Help
If your FMLA rights have been violated, there are several things that you, as an employee, can do. While these things may be handled by yourself alone, by using an employment attorney, the outcome may be different. It is also important that you consult with an employment attorney that specializes in FMLA before tackling any of the following […]
Starting July 2017 – Most Chicago Workers Will be Entitled to 5 Paid Sick Days
Yesterday, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide employees (within the City of Chicago) one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours of work. The accrual is capped at five sick days in a 12-month period. The ordinance is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2017 and will affect virtually […]