December 16th - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has addressed the most common employer questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. As of now, there are currently no state or federal laws that prohibit employers from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment, however, employees can refuse to get the vaccine if they have certain medical conditions, challenge the mandate based on sincerely-held religious beliefs, or for disability-related reasons. If this occurs, the EEOC says that the employee cannot be excluded from the workplace, unless the employer can establish the unvaccinated employee poses a direct threat to themselves or others that cannot be eliminated by providing the employee a reasonable accommodation.
For more information on these new guidelines, and for answers to some common vaccine-related questions, we recommend referring to this blog post: https://www.saul.com/blogs/wise-workplace-initiatives-and-strategies-employers/frequently-asked-questions-workplace
Letter to Alders
To Members of the Chicago City Council: Chicago small businesses have faced many challenges over the past several years and encountered numerous obstacles while attempting to recover from the devastating pandemic. Disinvested communities continue struggling to fill vacant storefronts, attract businesses, and foster economic development. We ask that you refrain from passing the Chicago Paid…
Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance
A press conference was held at City Hall to highlight concerns with the PTO ordinance and ask that changes to the ordinance be made. Hear from business owners, community advocates, and local chambers who passionately discussed their concerns and suggested possible improvements to the ordinance below. Over 30 chambers of commerce and place-based organizations sent…
SBAC Advocacy Update
October 10, 2023 The SBAC continues fighting for policies that will support small businesses and neighborhood business districts. Here are some updates on our efforts! Health Insurance The rising cost of health insurance continues to be a challenge for the small business community. Last spring the SBAC championed legislation focused on reducing premiums for small…