Running a business requires business owners to acquaint themselves with all the necessary rules and regulations stipulated under state employment laws.
These laws are meant to guide entrepreneurs, ensuring they set up and conduct their business legally and regulate the relationship between employers, employees, trade unions, and the government. These employment laws are also known as labor laws and hold sway in every business sector in almost every country.
As an entrepreneur looking to do business in Illinois, you must know several vital considerations under employment laws. Below are five of those key considerations:
Minimum Wage
This refers to the minimum amount businesses are legally allowed to pay their workers. According to Illinois employment laws, the minimum wage is pegged at $11 per hour. This means that employers of labor must pay all employees, regardless of their job or company size, at least the minimum wage of $11 per hour; anything less would be breaking the law.
Overtime Laws
Overtime in work is a situation where you stay longer than the stipulated work hours — either covering an extra shift for a colleague or yours. Illinois employment laws stipulate that non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay of time and a half for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
Discrimination and Harassment
The law demands that employees are protected against harassment or discrimination from their employers. Labor laws effectively prohibit business owners from discriminating or harassing their staff based on gender, age, race, national origin, or religion.
Employers are also mandated to provide a discrimination and harassment-free workplace and ensure that there are not any policies or procedures that may make said workplace difficult or dangerous to work in.
Leave Laws
Employees are entitled to various leaves under Illinois employment laws. These leaves include military leave, medical leave, and voting leave. Employers are also mandated to inform employees eligible for leaves, offering them a notice that is both in line with the employment laws and compliant with its requirements.
Workers’ compensation
Under Illinois employment laws, workers are entitled to compensation in the event of injury or an illness resulting from the job. Employers in Illinois are mandated by law to set up a system that first documents workers’ injuries or illnesses and then manages the workers’ compensation based on the type of injury or illness.
Workers’ insurance is an essential part of labor laws because most companies often operate under very unsafe conditions; this provision in the law forces them to create a safer workspace and set up a buoyant compensation structure.
As an employer in Illinois, we advise that you acquaint yourself with the employment laws to ensure you operate your business according to the stated guidelines. Knowledge of the considerations and the relevant laws will help prevent legal issues and liability as an entrepreneur in Illinois.
If you are an employer or business owner in need of experienced business attorneys, contact the law offices of Hecht-Schondorf. We provide excellent legal advisory and representation to companies like yours. Explore our blog here