Employment law

August 7, 2025

Major Federal Tax Changes Affect Tipped and Hourly Wage Employment

by Bellas & Wachowski - Attorneys at Law

A new federal law, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has introduced significant tax changes that directly impact employers in service-based industries. The legislation, signed into law on July 4, 2025, offers new income tax deductions for employees who earn tips and overtime pay, while also expanding tax credits for certain

employers. Businesses that rely on tipped or hourly labor should take a close look at how these changes affect their operations.

Tip Deductions for Employees, But Reporting Still Matters

February 18, 2025

New Regulatory Requirements for Small Businesses, Part 3

by George Bellas

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Regulations for Small Business

What new regulatory requirements from the federal government on down are small businesses facing in 2025? In this first of a three-part series, we will cover some of them, related to changes in and current status of tax policy.

First of all, the new year brings with it new payroll tax limits. Perhaps the most notable is that the Social Security wage base jumped by nearly 4.5%, to $176,100 from $168,600. Most of the other increases were more modest, such as the 401(k) contribution limit rising from $23,000 to $23,500, or business mileage reimbursement going from 67 to 70 cents.

January 17, 2025

New Laws in New Year for Illinois Employers, Part 2

by Kelsey Feucht

New Laws, New Year Part 2

Illinois small businesses need to get up to speed on a variety of state legislation passed in the previous session that came online on January 1.

We covered several new provisions in a post last week, including a higher state minimum wage and legislation prohibiting “capture audience meetings” focused on religion or politics, requiring “pay scale and benefits” information in all job postings, adding new requirements for businesses that want to employ children under age 16, and banning non-compete agreements for certain classes of workers.

January 10, 2025

Illinois Employers Face Raft of New Laws in New Year

by George Bellas

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Illinois Employers Face New Laws 2025

Guest Author: Kelsey Feucht, Associate Attorney with Bellas & Wachowski

Illinois small businesses need to get up to speed on a variety of state legislation – particularly employment laws – which became effective on January 1.

December 17, 2024

Browser Tracking Software – Is this a wiretap violation?

by Bellas & Wachowski - Attorneys at Law

Wire Tapping vs. Browser Tracking?

Software like Meta Pixel and Google Analytics that website operators use to track what sites a person visits, or what footprint they leave on those sites, is not subject to the same restrictions as wiretapping a phone line, according to a split decision from the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, in a case brought against two hospitals.

The court in Vita v. New England Baptist Hospital, et al (SJC-13542), ruled that wiretapping and browser tracking are categorically different pursuits, in its eyes, unless the state legislature decides otherwise. “If the Legislature intends for the Wiretap Act’s criminal and civil penalties to prohibit the tracking of a person’s browsing of, and interaction with, published information on websites, it must say so expressly,” wrote Associate Judge Scott Kafker in the opinion.

December 14, 2024

How to Keep Workplace Parties Festive and Harassment-Free This Holiday Season

by Bellas & Wachowski - Attorneys at Law

Holiday Business Parties

With the holiday season in full swing, workplaces often become the site of parties, gift exchanges, and other festive activities. These activities foster camaraderie among coworkers and allow teams to celebrate their accomplishments. Unfortunately, though, they can also sometimes lead to inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment, which may lead to problems for the unweary business owner.

Employers can take proactive steps to ensure everyone feels safe and respected during these events. Here are five suggestions to creating a safe and positive environment for holiday celebrations.

September 17, 2024

Make Sure Non-Disclosure Agreements Don’t Stymie Whistleblowing

by George Bellas

Make Sure Non-Disclosure Agreements Don’t Stymie Whistleblowing

Small businesses who enter into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with employees need to ensure that those documents clearly delineate that they will not be used to discriminate against those who engage in “whistleblower” activity—or such employers could potentially face unpleasant regulatory consequences.

This was underscored in late July, when the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a “reminder” that the Consumer Financial Protection Act establishing the agency bars employers from either firing or otherwise discriminating against employees who participate in whistleblower activity, assuming the business in question is regulated by the CFPB.

August 20, 2024

Illinois Civil Rights Protection Goes High-Tech: Illinois Human Rights Act Expanded to Include AI Regulation

by George Bellas

Illinois Human Rights Act Expanded to Include AI Regulation

Recently, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed H.B. 3773 into law, marking a significant expansion of the Illinois Human Rights Act to include specific regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in employment decisions. This move reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to civil rights protection, now extending into the realm of advanced technology.

What Does H.B. 3773 Mean for Your Business?

July 15, 2024

Review Your Severance, Non-Disparagement, Confidentiality Clauses

by George Bellas

Time to Review Severance Agreement

Employers who have not already done so should comprehensively review their past and present severance agreements to ensure that any non-disparagement and confidentiality clauses contained therein do not run afoul of the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling in a February 2023 case called McLaren Macomb, in which the NLRB significantly—and retroactively—restricted employers’ rights to include such clauses.

Referring to a provision of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) that protects employees’ rights to “engage in protected, concerted activities to address or improve working conditions,” the board wrote that: “a severance agreement is unlawful if its terms have a reasonable tendency to interfere with, or coerce employees in the exercise of their Section 7 rights.”

July 1, 2024

NOTE TO CHICAGO EMPLOYERS: New Chicago Paid-Leave Law Takes Effect 7.1.24

by George Bellas

Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance

Employers physically located within the City of Chicago need to be ready as of July 1 to implement the new Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, which stipulates that covered employees can earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave and 40 hours of other paid leave usable for any reasons per 12-month accrual period.

Covered employees are those who work at least 80 hours within a 120 day period. Immigration status is irrelevant. The benefit year can be defined the same for all employees or entirely individually, and can be tied to the calendar year, fiscal year, tax year, contract year or anniversary date of employment.