Legislation
extending the Illinois Equal Pay Act to cover the state’s smallest employers
passed the Illinois House this week.
Today, those employers with 1 to 3 employees are exempt from
the law. HB 3619 removes that exemption
and raises the fines from $2,500 to $5,000.
NFIB/Illinois
opposes the bill because the very smallest employers are the least able to
defend themselves against frivolous claims and absorb such large fines.
Even the federal
government, under the federal Equal Pay Act, recognizes the need to protect the
small employers and contains a family business exemption. The Federal Labor Standards Act applies to
employers whose annual sales total $500,000, also aimed at helping the smallest
employers.
The bill passed 76-34
on a mostly partisan roll call. NFIB
would like to thank those House Republicans who sided with the small-business
community.