Happy New Year!
endless new possibilities await with the help of our….
New Years Update ! ! !
Business Updates brought to you from the:
Law Offices of McLaughlin & Associates
As our world is shifting, we all have to consider what’s coming in the new year, especially as business owners. With the rapid advancement of AI and developments in the world stage, we can only expect it to drastically reshape the landscape of our economy. Most importantly we have to look closer at what’s going on in our immediate lives and be aware of the changes in Illinois law that will affect us more directly in 2026.
Important Information to Bring into The New Year
The state of Illinois has been busy this past year. There are so many new laws that have been passed in mid-2025 or effective in 2026 its simply too much to go over in just this news letter. We strongly encourage Illinois employers to review your Employee Handbook and add or revise it to reflect these changes. It’s a good idea to take a look at your policies and procedures each year to make sure everything is up to date. If you have any questions or want more information about any of these new laws or would like to retain us to assist you, please feel free to reach out.
Be sure to check out the announcement on the bottom of this letter for our in-person seminar where we will be going into much greater detail regarding new employment laws. And come hungry cause lunch is on us!
Neonatal Intensive Care (HB2978) Effective 6/1/26: Employers with 16 to 25 employees up to 10 days of unpaid leave when an employee’s child is a patient in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Employers with 26+ must provide up to 20 days.
Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act (HB1616) Effective 8/15/25: Amends the Act to include part-time employees. Part-time employees may take up to 10 days of paid leave to serve as an organ donor.
Workplace Transparency Act (HB3638) Effective 8/15/25: Confirms that employees, prospective employees, or former employees may enter into a valid and enforceable settlement or termination agreement with an employer that includes promises of confidentiality related to alleged unlawful employment practices if, it expires within 5 years from the date the allegation was disclosed.
Transportation Benefits Program Act (HB3094) Effective 8/15/25: Amends the act to exclude covered construction employers’ employees with whom they have a bona fide collective bargaining agreement. Includes covered part-time employees.
Victim’s Economic Security and Safety Act (HB1278) Effective 8/15/25: Amends the Act to allow covered employees or employees’ family members to have access to employer pictures, videos, or any other digital communications needed for evidentiary purposes. Adds a Poster requirement.
Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (SB0212) Effective 1/1/26: Amends the Act to specify that employers shall provide a 30-minute paid break for nursing mothers to express milk.
Military Family Leave Act (SB0220) Effective 8/1/25: Amends the act to require employers with 51+ employees to provide up to 8 hours of paid leave per month for participating in Funeral Honor Details.
We know this is a lot of information to sift through. To find out more about these laws or any other human resources or business related issues, do not hesitate to contact us at 630-230-8434. And please check out our website at www://ma-lawpc.com/
March Lunch & Learn Event
We will be hosting a seminar to provide an overview for any new employment laws effective in 2026.
And of course as promised, there will be a free lunch on us so stop on by and spend some time with us.
Just make sure you click the button below to register. Thank you for doing business with us and we hope you all have a very fruitful 2026!