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Illinois Passes Paid Sick Leave for All Employees
Earlier this week, the Illinois General Assembly passed a new paid sick leave mandate that, once signed by the Governor, will take effect on January 1, 2024. The legislation provides up to 40 hours, or five days, of paid time off for all Illinois workers for any reason, including but not limited to: employee’s illness, care for a sick family member, and medical appointments.
The policy includes the following components:
- Employees would start accruing sick time on their first day of employment at a rate of 1 hour per 40 hours worked
- Employees accrue up to a minimum of 40 hours or 5 days of sick time per calendar year
- Use of sick time by employees would start after 90 days of employment
- Employees could carry over up to 40 hours of unused time to the following year
- Employers are not required to pay out employees for unused sick days when employment is terminated
- Would not require the pay out of unused sick days by employer
- Employers may require employees to use paid sick leave in 2 hour increments
- Exempts sick leave benefits that are negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement
- Employers may require employees to notify the employer if it is reasonably foreseeable
While the bill has not yet been signed, research is being done on its impact on employers in municipalities who already have paid sick leave policies in place. The IRA will continue to update the industry on developments.
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IRA Staff Promotions and New Hires | |
The IRA recently promoted three staff members and added a new team member. Theresa Crisanti is elevated to Director of Small Business Programs, Clare Boyce has been promoted to Assistant Director of Special Events, and Katie Driscoll has been named Assistant Director of Sponsorships & Events. Additionally, Melba Catania has been brought on full-time as Administrative Assistant. Congratulations to these outstanding IRA team members! | |
Get Your Tickets for IRA Annual Meeting | | |
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Join the IRA and NRA President and CEO, Michelle Korsmo at the IRA's Annual Meeting & Luncheon on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the Union League Club Chicago.
The meeting will also feature the installation of the new IRA Chairman Kevin Vaughan alongside 2023 Officers and Board of Directors, present industry awards, and kick off IRA events for the year.
To register for this year's meeting, click here.
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New Member Spotlight: Paket Corporation | |
Check Your Certificate of Good Standing Status Today! | | |
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The Cook County Small Business Source is reminding operators to check the status of their Certificate of Good Standing.The Certificate can be used to open a bank account, apply for a loan, seek investments, purchase business insurance, and register to do business in another state.
To check the status of your business, click here.
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Sign up to Support the Chicago Police Memorial Fund | | |
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The Chicago Police Memorial Fund, a nonprofit that provides assistance to families of fallen Chicago Police Officers and those injured in the line of duty, is seeking support for their upcoming Paint the Town Blue Campaign. The 2023 Campaign, taking place May 12-21, is looking to partner with restaurants, bars and entertainment venues throughout the Chicagoland area.
For more information and how to sign up, click here.
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Health Insurance Open Enrollment Ends January 15 | | |
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Help your team get the health care coverage they need. Open Enrollment ends January 15 and signing up is simple.
Multilingual agents from Healthy Hospitality will help your employees find the right coverage, help them access any subsidies that are available to them, and sign them up right over the phone. Consulting with a Healthy Hospitality agent on best options for your team members is no-cost service provided to IRA members.
Call 1-877-540-2850 or click here to get started.
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IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Funds Available | |
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The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is a program of the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) that offers emergency assistance to Illinois food and beverage workers facing an unanticipated hardship within the past 90 days such as: accident, illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, or natural disaster.
If you are in need of assistance, please complete the application form here. All grant requests will be reviewed. The IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and limited to one per individual. Grants cover costs of living expenses for life-altering events and range from $250-$1500. For more information and how to apply to click here.
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Get Your Tickets for Taste of America in Chicago Brunch | | |
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A national dining event celebrating the local restaurant community is coming to Chicago in conjunction with the James Beard Foundation.
Taste America, presented by Capital One, is a nationwide initiative to bring together chefs, special guests, and diners from across the country to celebrate the local independent restaurants at the heart of our communities.
The brunch will take place on Sunday, March 5th at Peach’s Restaurant will be an intimate gathering with a multi-course menu created by Chef Lamar Moore in Chicago, Chef Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia, and Chef Cliff Rome of Peach’s Restaurant in Chicago.
For tickets, click here.
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Innovation Builds Brands - Make 2023 Your Year | |
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In a challenging foodservice environment, adaptability is key to growth and relevancy. Things continue to change rapidly, and businesses must be ready to pivot—especially now. The National Restaurant Association Show is the place where operators like you can get the resources required to stay ahead of the curve. From products and connections to insights and inspiration—it’s all at the Show, the foodservice industry’s must-attend event.
Don’t get left behind in 2023. Register today - save $50.00 – and get everything you need to future-proof your business. Click here to register.
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