By Tim Dempsey

 

President Greg Hill opened the first meeting of the new year, Tucker Olson gave the pledge, Bob Zamor led us on prayer and there was no song!

 

-Pat Hart just returned from a Mediterranean cruise.

 

-The Winter Fundraiser is set for March 13. Tickets will be available on line and at the meeting next week.

 

-Event meeting 1/21 @ 5:30 pm @ Pet Factory.

 

-Auction items are needed. Doug Fendon is sending out a list of possible items.

 

-We are in need of new Bulletin Editors. Commitment is just one Bulletin per month. Editors have total immunity!

 

-Jon Robb entertained us with remembering the first baseball game we attended.

 

Today’s program was our own Diana Taylor talking about Equal Pay Discrimination Laws.

 

Three laws are changing, 2 now and one 7/1. The first is the Illinois Equal Pay Act passed in 2003. Employers cannot discriminate because of gender or race. Companies of all sizes must keep records of what they pay. Pay must focus on duties not performance. You can pay a performance bonus and tenure can factor in. New law says substantially similar vs. equal and you cannot screen based on previous wages but you can discuss expectations. Damages include: underpayment + interest  + fees.

 

Second, is the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act. Illinois Human Rights Act applied to companies with 15 or more employees but now to all companies. It does not apply to contractors. Employer s must provide sexual harassment training. A model program will be available from the Illinois Dept. of Human Rights. Harassment now applies to all forms of harassment. Arbitration cannot cover discrimination.

 

Third, the changes effective 7/1/2020 include the definition of an employer. If you have one employee, you could be subject to discrimination. Review employment contracts. If you have 1 to 14 employees, review your sexual harassment training. A drug free policy is reasonable depending on job duties.

 

Daily: $31 won by Rich Babjak

 

Progressive: $610 (31 cards) – Rollover!

 

“Excellence is not an act . . . but a habit" - Aristotle