Signwalk Signs, Equal Pay Act Reporting, ERTC Delays

Sidewalk Signs Now Allowed with City Permit in Chicago

Effective March 1, sidewalk signs (e.g. A-frame, T-frame, or other temporary self-supporting type signs, placed on the public way) are allowed in the City of Chicago by obtaining the proper City permit.

The IRA fully supported Mayor Lightfoot's Chi Biz Strong Initiative passed last year, and the legalization of sidewalk signs is the final reform of the package to take effect. The City permit application for sidewalk signs is now available by visiting the City of Chicago’s Inspections, Permitting & Licensing web portal. Specifications on the process include:

• A business will be allowed one sign per street address and an approved application will be provided a decal to display on a sidewalk sign.
• The signs must be no larger than 6 square feet in area per face and no greater than four feet in height.
• The signs can only contain information for goods and services provided on the premises and must display a permit decal issued by the City upon permit application approval.
• A permit application must include a plan or sketch of the proposed sidewalk sign with proposed dimensions and language.
• Proof of commercial general liability insurance will also be required.
• A sidewalk sign permit will be valid for five years from the date of issuance and the permit fee will be $100 per year.
• The sidewalk sign cannot interfere with the flow of pedestrians, access to building entrances, pedestrian and traffic safety, or the aesthetic quality of the surrounding area.
• A sidewalk sign can only be displayed during the hours the business is open to the public and must be removed from the sidewalk when the business has closed for the day.

Click here to learn more.

Illinois Equal Pay Act Reporting Requirements - Notices Sent by IDOL

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is incrementally notifying large businesses in Illinois regarding compliance with the Equal Pay Act reporting requirements. The registration deadline for the second tier of businesses is June 22.

In 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Pritzker signed legislation updating the Equal Pay Act of 2003, requiring private businesses with 100 or more employees in the State of Illinois to report certain payroll information to IDOL. The legislation requires qualifying employers to provide proof of the total wages paid each employee during the prior year as well as the gender, race and ethnicity of the employees. Equal pay certification must be obtained before March 23, 2024, and businesses must recertify every two years.

IDOL is communicating directly with businesses regarding registration to help them with the process. Each business will receive no less than 120 days advance notice of their registration deadline. It is important to note that some businesses may not receive their assigned registration date for over a year.

Questions can be sent to Robert Parrilli or Nancy Hernandez. Click here to read more.

Virtual Springfield Lobby Day Recap

Thank you to everyone that attended our Virtual Springfield Lobby Day session on Monday afternoon.

We were glad to be able to have productive discussions with House Speaker Chris Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, Rep. Ann Williams, and Rep. Mike Zalewski about issues of concern to our industry in the General Assembly.

The IRA will continue to push for enhanced support and relief for restaurants and hospitality businesses from leaders in Springfield in the coming weeks. 

Next Week - Let's Talk Womxn Celebration, Discounted Tickets Available

Join Let's Talk Womxn and Choose Chicago for a night out Tuesday, March 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Morgan Manufacturing to celebrate International Women's Day and Chicago Restaurant Week.

This bash includes 25 appetizer and dessert stations, power women cocktails and beverages, a panel of our women restaurateurs, DJ Megan Taylor (Chicago's #1 DJ), and dancing.

Click here to purchase tickets. Use the code LTWmoes for discounted tickets to the event.

Save the Date - AMA Outstanding Mother Awards

Join us for the American Lung Association’s Outstanding Mother Awards on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This year’s event will honor four distinguished women in the Chicagoland area for successfully building their careers, nurturing their families and improving our community.

Funds raised support lung health research, education and advocacy, directly impacting families affected lung disease, including COVID-19, while fighting to keep our air healthy and our children tobacco-free.

To explore sponsorship options, purchase tickets, or make a donation, click here.

Letter to IRS and Treasury on ERTC Delays and Unfair Tax Liabilities

Last week, the National Restaurant Association, IRA, and other state restaurant associations sent a letter to the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service warning that delays in processing ERTC refunds are creating tax liabilities for restaurants.

We urged the IRS to halt automated tax collections, delay the collection process, streamline the reasonable cause penalty abatement process, and communicate the status of amended returns and ERTC refunds.

Click here to read the letter.

CDC Issues New Guidelines for COVID-19 Risk Levels

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated last week its framework to monitor the level of COVID-19 in communities. CDC will regularly update its county-by-county risk map to aid in making sound safety decisions. Access to the data can be found here.

Restaurants should use this information in combination with any local requirements to determine their own safety protocols for both employees and guests.