News & Updates

 

Important COVID-19 Update from Mayor George D. Alpogianis

Click HERE to View a Summary of New Mandates and Certain Exemptions & Exceptions.

Illustration Of Covid-19 Requirements For Restaurant, Bar, And Fitness Center Patrons

Click HERE for the most up to date information from the Cook County Department of Public Health

1/13/2022-  Supreme Court Blocks nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for large businesses, allows health care worker vaccine mandate to take effect

 The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden’s vaccine or testing requirement aimed at large businesses, but it allowed a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect nationwide.

In freezing a lower court opinion that allowed the regulation to go into effect nationwide, the majority sent a clear message the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, charged with protecting workplace safety, overstepped its authority in issuing such a sweeping emergency directive that would impact millions of workers. In contrast, the justices said that a separate agency could issue a rule to protect the health and safety of Medicare and Medicaid patients.

 

Job Market Data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, January 7, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Job openings: On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released job openings data. Employers had 10.6 million job openings at the end of November – down from 11 million in October, but still significantly elevated historically. There are now 3.7 million more job openings than there are unemployed workers – unprecedented. The quits rate was 3%, matching the highest-ever rate. Overall, 4.5 million people quit their jobs in November – the highest level recorded.

Payrolls: On Wednesday, the payroll firm ADP reported that payrolls grew a whopping 807,000 in December. That was well above expectations. It portends a strong December jobs report from BLS.

December jobs report: Expectations are for businesses to create 400,000 jobs, although the strong ADP mark could raise those expectations. Look for November’s disappointing 210,000 jobs added to be revised up substantially. October’s strong 546,000 jobs gained could also see an upward revision.

Bottom line: Right now, given what we saw in the job openings data and the payroll numbers, the job market remains one with lots of openings and lots of workers taking some of those jobs – but not enough yet. And we won’t know how Omicron impacts that situation for at least a few more weeks.

—Curtis Dubay, Senior Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Cook County Department Of Public Health Issues New Mitigation Orders Amid Latest Covid-19 Surge, December 29, 2021

In response to the current COVID-19 surge of cases and hospitalizations in suburban Cook County, Cook County Department of Public Health issued a new mitigation order for its suburban Cook County jurisdiction. Specifically, the order calls for proof of vaccination for customers of indoor settings where food or drink are served for on-premises consumption, like restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and in fitness facilities. The order will go into effect January 3, 2022.  Click HERE for full details.

The Latest on the Vaccine Mandate Lawsuits and What Employers Need to Know, December 27, 2021

• On December 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reinstated the OSHA ETS requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated by January 4 or allow employees to submit weekly negative test results. This was a reversal of the previous stay by the Fifth Circuit.
• On December 22, the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for the ETS to occur on Friday, January 7.
• To account for the litigation uncertainty, OSHA updated their enforcement policy stating that it “is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to the compliance dates of the ETS.” It will not issue any citations before January 10 and will not enforce the vaccine or testing requirement until February 9 “so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard.”
• Click HERE to read more about the OSHA ETS, Federal Contractor Mandate and CMS Rule.

Illinois Minimum Wage, December 18, 2021 

The minimum wage will increase to $12 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped employees will be $7.20 per hour. Illinois’s minimum wage law applies to employers with four or more employees.  This takes effect on January 1, 2022

Facade & Streetscape Improvement/Beautification Program, November 22, 2021

The Village of Niles has a Façade & Streetscape Improvement/Beautification Program. The purpose of this grant program is to provide financial assistance for the design and construction of façade improvements which are in keeping with the Village Comprehensive Plan. It is also intended to provide financial assistance for capital improvement projects completed in conjunction with a façade improvement project. Click HERE for the full list of eligible expenses, the application, and further details.

2020 U.S. Census Results, November 22, 2021

The Village of Niles has increased in population to 30,912 from 29,803.

The State of Illinois is required to be divided into seventeen congressional districts, equal in population, for the U.S. House of Representatives. These districts will be used for elections over the next decade. Illinois currently sends eighteen members to the U.S. House but due to declining population in the 2010-20 period, the state lost one congressional district.

OSHA Suspends COVID-19 Employer Mandate, November 22, 2021

Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suspended enforcement of its Emergency Temporary Standard on private sector employers. This comes after last week when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered OSHA to not enforce the ETS pending judicial review. OSHA says that it remains confident in its ability to enforce such mandates in emergency situations but will take no further actions toward implementation until after the issue is litigated in the Courts. Click HERE for more information about the suspension. Click HERE for FAQs regarding the ETS.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Passes, November 22, 2021

The passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a historic victory, first and foremost, for the American people. Much needed and long overdue, it represents the largest federal investment in roads and bridges in half a century; the largest investment in public transit, clean drinking water, and wastewater infrastructure in American history; the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak; and the single largest investment the U.S. has ever made to address climate change. Click HERE to download a bill summary.

Cook County Mask Mandate, August 20, 2021  

The Cook County Department of Public Health announced that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors, beginning Monday, August 23.  Click HERE to read the whole press release and order.   

Small Business Recovery Loans, August 06, 2021  

The Village of Niles has rolled out Small Business Recovery Loans for restaurants.  Click HERE for more details.

Paycheck Protection Program, July 28, 2021 

The SBA launched a new application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through SBA.  Lenders have to opt-in first to allow their borrowers to use the new portal.  Click HERE for more details.