by Andy Martone
The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has confirmed that the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act is now in effect as a result of the excessive unemployment rate in Illinois caused by the pandemic, the related Stay at Home Orders and the resulting business closures.
The Act requires the workforce on all public works projects to be comprised of a minimum of 90 percent of Illinois workers.
The law covers public works projects that are funded in whole or in part with state funds or funds administered by the state of Illinois. Any public works project financed in whole or in part by federal funds administered by the state of Illinois is also covered to the extent permitted by applicable federal law or regulation.
The consequences of violating the Act can be severe, and include substantial penalties per worker, per day – starting at $1,000 and going up to $15,000 for multiple repeat violations – and also allow for the filing of private lawsuits.
Posted July 10th, 2020
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has again updated its pandemic guidance to address employment and disability-related issues as they arise in the midst of this pandemic.
A link to this most recent update is found here.
For the most part, the EEOC has used common sense to adapt current law to the Covid-19 – however, there are certain twists and turns that may not be readily apparent.
The best advice for employers under these circumstances is to have patience, use common sense, and to consult with an appropriate professional prior to taking a potentially questionable adverse employment action.
Posted May 7th, 2020
The Collective Thread is a non-profit that trains immigrants and refugees to sew. They graduate skilled stitchers to fulfill the sewing workforce issue for local companies as well as hire graduates to work in their small batch facility.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-profit has shifted their textile production to exclusively make masks and hospital gowns. 2,000 masks had been produced for the St. Louis Community as of April 1st. Their cost is $5 per mast, and thousands of requests remain in our region.
They are giving items to hospitals and the VA free of charge. With no income from texle orders, they are keeping their staff on payroll, relying exclusively on donations.
HesseMartone has donated to The Collective Thread and invites you to join. Donations are urgently needed to keep their efforts going.
Visit their website to support.
https://thecollectivethread.org
Posted April 20th, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the CDC’s interim guidance.
Posted April 10th, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the full document.
Posted April 7th, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the full guidelines, which are referenced in the Missouri Stay At Home Order.
Posted April 4th, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the full order.
Posted April 3rd, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the full document.
Posted April 2nd, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the updated FAQ document.
Posted April 1st, 2020
Download the PDF below to read the DOL’s helpful FAQ document.
Posted March 27th, 2020
