New Equal Pay Laws to Take Effect in 2022
Illinois has joined the nationwide trend around the United States of states enacting equal pay laws. Starting in January 2022, the Illinois Equal Pay Act (the “Act”) amendments will take effect. Under the new changes to the Act, originally passed in 2003, employers with more than 100 employees will be required to obtain an “Equal
Emergence of Omicron and its Impact on the Workforce
With the arrival of a new season comes the arrival of a new variant of COVD-19: Omicron. As employers navigate another season of managing the virus’s impact on the workforce, it remains important to stay informed and take precautionary measures surrounding the workplace. Preliminary Information on Omicron As the first death related to the variant
Federal Decision to Impact Vaccine or Frequent Testing Mandate for Employers
The Decision A few months ago, in September, President Biden sought to implement a federal mandate under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) called the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which would require private business with over 100 employees to require either mandatory COVID-19 vaccines or frequent testing. While the rule was
Property Tax Appeals Update
Our real estate tax team at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC continues to work hard fighting to keep your property tax bills as low as possible. Below are key updates as the 2021 session progresses. Cook County: The Board of Review has officially opened for 2021 appeals. Group 1 consists of Norwood Park, Oak Park,
The Influence of COVID-19 on Data Security in Remote Work Environments
While the internet has allowed people to stay connected and continue working from home during the pandemic, it has also presented an opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of susceptible remote working setups. Cybercrime has significantly increased since the start of the pandemic, prompting corporations to mitigate the risk of a data breach against an
Now That Tax Changes Are Closer to Reality, What do You Need to Know?
Congress is buzzing with talk of revising the tax law to target more wealthy individuals, and federal lawmakers continue to take steps towards achieving those changes. On September 13, 2021, the House Ways and Means Committee released parts of a bill that, if enacted, would reshape the U.S. tax landscape and collect more from wealthier
Illinois Expands Required Sexual Harassment Training Guidelines for Employers
Public Act 101-0221 amended the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”), requiring all Illinois employers to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training. Furthermore, the IHRA requires restaurants and bars to establish and disseminate a written policy on sexual harassment prevention training and provide “supplemental” sexual harassment prevention training. The Illinois Department of Human Rights (“IDHR”) was
Property Tax Appeals Update
Our real estate tax team at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC continues to work hard fighting to keep your property tax bills as low as possible. We’re proud to announce that our real estate tax appeals throughout the 2020 session resulted in a sum total of $2,653,584 in tax dollar savings for our commercial and
Inflation Begins Hitting Consumer Purses
Prices of online goods have now risen for an unprecedented 15 consecutive months, just after what was a record-setting period of declines. Inflation is hitting all different types of products, including pet products, non-prescription drugs, clothing, furniture, and flower arrangements. The rise in digital sticker prices across the industry means online commerce transactions are soon
Illinois Launches New Rental Assistance Program
The Illinois Supreme Court issued an order on September 13, 2021, directing that information on a new $60 million Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (“CBRAP”) be provided to litigants in eviction courts across the state. Up to 12 months of past-due rent and three months of future rent per applicant can be paid for by the program. The new court-based relief