MAY 14, 2020
City of Chicago Delivery Transparency Rules In Effect Tomorrow, Commission Fee Hearing on Monday
This week, Mayor Lightfoot and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno announced new rules for third-party food delivery companies to increase transparency and fair competition. The IRA worked on these rules with Mayor Lightfoot and BACP as an important step to bring much-needed transparency and fairness to the food delivery space. Click here to read the full announcement.

Effective tomorrow, Friday, May 22, all third-party delivery companies will be required to disclose to the customer an itemized cost breakdown of each transaction, including the menu price of the food, any sales or other tax, delivery charge and tip, and any commission or service fee paid by the restaurant to the third-party delivery company. Click here to read the rules.

Additionally, the Joint Committee on Finance and License and Consumer Protection is hosting a virtual subject matter hearing Monday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. on the subject of third party delivery service commission fees charged to restaurants. No vote on legislation will take place at the hearing. The hearing can be watched online here on Monday.

The IRA will be testifying at this hearing, and we encourage any interested restaurants to subject written comments. Written comments can be submitted to Carl Erickson by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15. Click here for more information.

Read the latest below:

Add Your Voice: Help Move Restaurants into Phase 3 of Restore Illinois
Under the current Restore Illinois plan, restaurants and bars throughout the state will be unable to resume dine in operations until their region reaches Phase 4, or June 26 at the very earliest. This approach underestimates the restaurant industry’s ability to reopen and operate safely with enhanced public health measures in place.

The IRA is calling on the Governor and leaders in the General Assembly to urge them to allow restaurants to resume dine in operations with limited capacity during Phase 3.

Make your voice heard in our ongoing efforts to save Illinois restaurants.

Read more about the IRA's ongoing efforts:

IRA Urging State to Allow Cocktails/Mixed Drinks To Go, More Support from Legislators Building

In late March, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) affirmed that cocktails to go are not permitted in Illinois. However, the IRA continues to urge the Governor's office, General Assembly, and ILCC to make a pragmatic rule change to allow for the sale and delivery of mixed drinks/cocktails by restaurants and bars across the state.

We are fully supportive of the Cocktails for Hope initiative founded by IRA member Julia Momose of Kumiko that has a petition with 12,000+ signers to help make this action happen. Click here to sign the petition to urge the state of Illinois to take action.

Senator Sara Feigenholtz (6th) is leading the growing effort in the Senate to push for this change. We thank her for her leadership on this issue.

Click here to read the latest from Eater Chicago.
Reminder - Updated City of Chicago Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Rules
 
Earlier this week, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) has released updated minimum wage and paid sick leave rules that align with the city's $15 minimum wage ordinance . Click here to read the rules.

There are no substantive changes to the city's minimum wage or paid sick leave rules that adversely impact restaurants. Three important changes of note for restaurant operations:

  • Employer Payment of Difference As Soon As Is Practicable When Wages Plus Tips Do Not Equal Minimum Wage
  • As previously required, if an employee's wages plus tips do not equal at least the number of hours worked times the applicable City minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.
  • The new rules clarify that an employer must make up the difference as soon as is practicable - no later than the next regularly-scheduled pay period.
  • Posting the Notice
  • Previously, employers were required to post a paper version of the minimum wage notice at their place of business.
  • In the new rules, employers are required to post the notice through the employers’ usual methods of communication for such notices, whether by paper posting or by electronic dissemination through the employers’ internal communication channels. 
  • Notice with First Paycheck
  • Previously, employers were required to provide employees with a paper version of their rights under the minimum wage ordinance with their first paycheck.
  • In the new rules, where employees are enrolled in direct deposit and do not receive a “paycheck” but have the option to review their pay stubs electronically, employers may provide the notice to employees through the employers’ usual methods of electronic communication including but not limited to electronic mail and dissemination through internal communication channels
Please  visit our website  for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.